How To Make A Science Video ... like Angela Collier
Sep 25, 2023
Angela Collier, a theoretical astrophysicist and science communicator, shares her journey from reluctant creator to viral YouTube sensation. She discusses the balance between her day job and making engaging science videos, emphasizing authenticity over chasing views. Angela highlights her influences from video essayists and the importance of clear, conversational explanations tailored to a high-school level audience. She also reflects on the political dimensions of science, the surprises of audience growth, and her dream projects, all while maintaining a commitment to curiosity-driven content.
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Humble Channel Origins
- Angela began her channel by posting a recorded conference talk about being a first-generation graduate student before making videos regularly.
- She then put up a long video on sexual harassment but avoided uploading it alone, so she posted the talk to justify the account.
Sudden Growth From Unexpected Videos
- Angela's channel grew after a video about postdocs went viral and later a string-theory video surged from unexpected sources like 4chan.
- Those spikes added thousands of subscribers and dramatically raised her visibility.
Make Videos From Genuine Curiosity
- Find subjects that spark your curiosity and mull them for weeks before writing and recording.
- Use personal curiosity as the primary driver for topic selection rather than chasing trends.
