In a digital age marked by the proliferation of online content, Owensboro native Dr. John Gruenewald has taken on a mission to transcend traditional education’s boundaries. His YouTube channel, aptly named “Dr. John,” serves as a conduit, connecting the intricate world of science and mathematics to the technologies that define modern society and our daily lives.
Unlike conventional educational content that often targets young people and students, Gruenewald aims to appeal to a broader audience. He believes that learning should extend beyond the confines of formal education, persisting throughout one’s lifetime.
“I believe education shouldn’t end with a degree or diploma but continue throughout an entire lifetime,” he said. “And with rapidly evolving technologies, especially at the dawn of artificial intelligence, I believe science communication is more important than ever in understanding the ever-changing landscape of society.”
Despite residing in California for the past five years, Gruenewald holds his hometown of Owensboro close to his heart. Growing up in Owensboro and attending the Owensboro Catholic Schools system, he considered himself fortunate to encounter inspiring teachers who nurtured his curiosity about the world. He said his senior class of 2006 felt like an extended family, offering support and encouragement that has remained a vital source of motivation throughout his journey.
“Putting yourself out there for the judgment of the internet can be a bit scary sometimes,” Gruenewald said. “Some of the strongest support I’ve received since I began making online videos has been from my friends and family from Owensboro. It takes some time to grow a following online, but the support in the comments, the subscriptions to my channel, the reposting of my videos, etc., really helps build my confidence to continue.”
Gruenewald’s academic journey culminated in a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics from the University of Kentucky. During his graduate studies, he globetrotted for conferences and research, visiting places like Singapore, France, Germany, and China. He also spent a year in South Korea, researching quantum materials at Seoul National University.
After earning his Ph.D., Gruenewald joined a Southern California-based company specializing in high-performance infrared sensors, crucial components for satellites, telescopes, and aircraft used by agencies like NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Physics hasn’t always been a passion of Gruenewald. He found it quite challenging early on in his education until something changed.
“By the end of the first semester in college, something kind of funny happened. It seemed like the more I learned physics, the more I understood how things worked around me,” he said. “It seemed like most technology could be broken down and understood from a physics perspective. I really enjoyed seeing the connections between how the abstract principles related to real-world technology.”
He ventured into science communication during his graduate school tenure by creating online physics demonstration videos. Some of these videos garnered significant online attention, foreshadowing his future in the field.
“My motivation for beginning a journey into science communication stems from both my personal use of online video education, as well as the increased use of online content in modern education systems,” Gruenewald said. “Ready or not, the pandemic really kicked online learning into high gear. And while more and more courses went online, the course content didn’t necessarily follow suit.”
Gruenewald said he noticed many educational videos struggled to deliver content in an effective online presentation style. And while the lectures and content were amazing, he said the messages were often lost because of poor video quality and presentation style.
“Most of the popular YouTube channels we’ve become accustomed to incorporate exciting animations, graphics, and visualization,” he said. “Many educational videos, on the other hand – especially those in math and science – tend to use recordings of a professor at a blackboard with subpar usage of graphics and audio. I hope to help bring my viewers a more engaging educational experience.”
Ultimately, Gruenewald wants to keep science at the forefront of conversations, shedding light on the universe’s secrets hiding in plain sight.
“I want people to understand where things come from, how they were developed, and how to think from a scientific perspective,” he said. “The neat thing about science is that it helps to distinguish between good ideas and trendy fads – even without looking anything up on the internet.”
