Hank Green
Science Communicator, Educator, and Media Entrepreneur
Hank Green is a science communicator, entrepreneur, and author who built Complexly, a media production company that operates educational YouTube channels including SciShow, CrashCourse, and others covering topics ranging from biology and chemistry to history and philosophy. He co-founded these projects with his brother John Green starting in 2007, initially through the Vlogbrothers channel and expanding to educational channels as YouTube's platform grew. CrashCourse videos are used in secondary and post-secondary classrooms globally. He has also published science fiction novels and operates DFTBA, a merchandise platform for creators.
Green co-founded VidCon, a conference for online video creators and audiences that became the major industry event for that sector before being acquired by Viacom in 2018. His public writing and speaking on platform economics, creator rights, and the attention economy have contributed to public and industry discussions about the creator economy's structural dynamics. He has been critical of social media platforms' relationship with creators and audiences, and discussed TikTok and algorithmic media in terms of their effects on public information and attention.
In 2023, Green was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, which he discussed publicly. He subsequently returned to work and has continued producing content. His discussion of the experience was widely shared within the science communication and YouTube creator communities. He has been open about aspects of his mental and physical health across multiple years of public work.
Complexly's educational channels employ teams of producers, writers, and educators to maintain high publication volumes across multiple channels. This means the content is not solely the product of one person but of a media organization, distinguishing it from creator-led channels where a single individual is responsible for research and production. The scale of the operation is a significant part of what allows the channels to maintain curriculum-level coverage across subjects.