Hank Green, an esteemed content creator and YouTuber whose projects frequently revolve around science and STEM-related subjects, is presenting today’s OneMIT Commencement address. Alongside his brother John, Green has established the educational media company Complexly, amassing over 2 billion views on their content, which includes the channels SciShow and CrashCourse. MIT News spoke with Green prior to his commencement speech.
Q: MIT’s president, Sally Kornbluth, frequently discusses the significance of curiosity. How much of curiosity do you believe is innate, or conversely, how do you continuously nurture your sense of inquiry?
A: There’s a phrase in my presentation today, something along the lines of, if I could attribute my achievements to anything beyond luck, it’s my constant belief that there’s no better utilization of a day than acquiring new knowledge. I can’t pinpoint where that originated. It feels universal. I have an 8-year-old son who embodies this spirit. My wife texted me last night, saying, “He’s curious about what dark matter is.” Well, wouldn’t we all like to know that?
I’m not entirely certain how to foster that curiosity, but I do have methods for directing it. … The truth is, it’s easy to channel my curiosity towards what might earn me the most money or what makes me feel superior to others. As the founder and host of SciShow, I’m quite mindful that some viewers may watch to feel enlightened compared to those who are less informed. While that’s a motivation, and at least it’s directed towards gaining knowledge, it’s not the most commendable drive. I believe one of the most remarkable strengths individuals can possess is the ability to guide their curiosity based on their values and the changes they wish to see in the world. That’s something I have diligently worked on.
Q: It appears that you’re not just absorbing new information but also facing numerous challenges in determining the best ways to communicate this information, right?
A: Absolutely! The reality is that the communication landscape evolves rapidly. Five years ago, TikTok wasn’t really a factor. When I first heard of it, I thought, “You can’t convey science in a minute. That’s impossible. It’s solely for dance videos.” Then I observed others doing it and realized, “Well, you actually can.”
I’m also currently undertaking a lengthy science communication project. When I say lengthy, I mean it’s a book focused on the biology of cancer. While that process is ongoing, for me, that represents the most extensive form of communication possible.
[On the other hand,] my friend Charlie produced one of the earliest science TikToks I encountered. It’s a skit illustrating how vaccines function, featuring a character as a vaccine and another as an immune cell. It lasted approximately 30 seconds and effectively conveyed critical information in a more engaging way than I could have about vaccines during the Covid pandemic, preemptively addressing fears and clearly outlining what vaccines entail, making it highly accessible and non-alienating.
Q: What topics are you addressing in your remarks today?
A: Yes, we are in an incredibly unusual time regarding the degree of power humanity holds. We’ve experienced similar periods, where the capability at our fingertips grows exponentially fast. The nuclear era stands as a notable example in terms of how rapidly that change occurred. However, it feels as though biotechnology, AI, and communications are collectively contributing to something truly significant.
The recurring thought for me was — I didn’t explicitly include this in my address, but it significantly influenced my speech: There was a time when humans powered the world solely through muscular strength. Now, human muscle is not the [most] essential aspect of our production. Intelligence and agility are vital, but in terms of energy expended, [it’s handled] by machines. If we move towards a scenario where that [also] applies to intelligence, what unique advantages do we still possess? Many might respond to that with “Nothing,” I suppose.
I strongly disagree. I believe we will still retain a near-monopoly on meaning and our significance to one another. Thus, what I aim to convey is that everything we do, everything we create, is fundamentally for people in some way. Whether it’s a playlist for a friend or the Human Genome Project, all our efforts are ultimately for people. Therefore, maintaining our focus on people, rather than viewing them as obstacles, but instead constructing for their benefit, is the mindset I wish to emphasize.