American content creator Kyle Hill has done remarkable work making science accessible to everyday audiences, building a massive global following on his YouTube channel. The LUT University Student Union nominated him for an honorary doctorate in technology, which he will officially receive at LUT’s doctoral conferment ceremony in Lappeenranta on 23 May. He is deeply honored by the recognition.
“Even 14 years after leaving university to pursue science communication and entertainment professionally, I still thought about going back to school. I always wanted to prove to myself that I took the work seriously enough to become a true ‘expert’. But I never thought I'd have the time or opportunity to get a PhD. Having the students and staff at LUT come out of nowhere to realize this dream is the happiest I've felt in years. I can honestly say that this is one of my life's crowning achievements. I am so honored,” Hill says.
He knows what to expect when he arrives in Finland. Because he's a passionate science enthusiast, the itinerary includes a visit to Onkalo, the future nuclear waste repository in Eurajoki.
“I know from some Finnish friends and from previous honorary doctorate recipient Jamie Hyneman that I will get along great in Finland. The hardworking, no-nonsense culture is exactly how I approach my career. I am most looking forward to meeting the students who made this trip possible. There's a chance I get to see the world's first nuclear waste repository at Onkalo as well, and I'd love to bring this Finnish success story to a wider audience.”
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Without education, there is nothing
When Kyle Hill was finishing up at university, he realized that he liked getting people excited about problem-solving and discovery in science more than actually doing it himself.
“I imagined that, like the greats before me, I could be a force-multiplier for critical thinkers in the world. As Carl Sagan said, ‘not explaining science seems to me perverse. When you're in love, you want to tell the world’. What inspires me today are the almost daily emails and messages from parents and students and fans that have let me into their lives. It's an honor and a privilege to be a part of so many educational journeys.”
Hill spends most of his time talking about things like engineering and nuclear physics, but he has always loved a good philosophical thought experiment or ethical conundrum.
“I spend so much time thinking about hard science that when something comes along that makes me stretch my brain in a different way, that's really enjoyable. And I think without education, there is nothing.”
“Humans have come so far in the last few millennia because we figured out how to write things down, pass knowledge on, and consolidate our intelligence in institutions. Without great thinkers and teachers, we don't have running water for our towns, we don't have enough food to feed nations, we don't have society. The fact that an institution as successful as LUT has selected me as someone worthy of the honorary doctorate means so much to me.”
Don’t forget to look up and zoom out
Today, we are facing serious conflicts and threats around the world. Yet Hill reminds us that this is the best time to be alive – believe it or not. He points to increasing life expectancies, advancements in medicine, declining crime rates, less extreme poverty, lower child mortality, better access to communication, improved standards of living across the globe, and more.
“It's easy to look at your phone and despair. War, conflict, drama, crime, and injustice. But remember that when you live inside social media, you're living in a world that has been specifically crafted to keep you clicking and scrolling. If you look up and zoom out, we are still living in amazing times.”
For entertaining and inspiring science content, visit the YouTube channel Kyle Hill Science.
