Is he a real scientist?
He's a pitchman with a science degree - astrophysics.
I don't believe he has any scientific work to his credit, though.
Nope...
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/09/17/if-we-cant-trust-neil-degrasse-tyson-who-can-we-trust/
“Is he a real scientist?”
No, but he once stayed at a Holiday Inn.
He has a masters in Slime-atology!