Joe Hanson
Joe Hanson is a biologist and science storyteller who creates and hosts PBS’s Be Smart, turning everyday questions into journeys through science.
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Latest
Joe’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
PBS Digital Studios
GBHOverview
- Based in
- Austin, Texas
- Training
- Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology, University of Texas at Austin
- Breakout
- A Tumblr science blog led to a PBS Digital Studios YouTube show in January 2013
- Work
- Science writer, video creator, producer and host
Mini bio
How it started.
Joe trained as a biologist, studying biochemistry as an undergraduate and cell and molecular biology for his Ph.D. During graduate school, he started sharing science on Tumblr. The blog grew into It’s Okay to Be Smart, his PBS Digital Studios YouTube series, which began in January 2013.
Following the questions.
Now called Be Smart, the show follows questions about nature, physics and everyday life. Joe is its host, head writer and producer. His writing has also appeared in WIRED, Nautilus, Scientific American and Texas Monthly.
Beyond Be Smart.
Joe also hosts PBS Terra’s Overview, which uses aerial photography to explore Earth. In 2024 he became the host of GBH’s High School Quiz Show. His PBS Terra work shared a 2021 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Gold Award for reporting on threatened prairie and forest ecosystems.
Creditschronological, newest first
Video and television
- 2024High School Quiz ShowHost
- 2021Overview: prairie and ancient-forest reportingMember of the award-winning PBS Terra team
- 2013It’s Okay to Be Smart / Be SmartCreator and host
Podcasts
- 2026SUBSTANCE: LightHost
- 2026SUBSTANCE: ClayHost
Awards
- 2026 Telly Award, SilverBe Smart, Social Video: Creator-Creator & Host. Joe Hanson is credited as host.
- 2021 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award, GoldVideo: Spot News/Feature Reporting. Shared with Michael Werner, Rachel Raney and Brandon Arolfo for PBS Terra reports on prairie restoration and ancient forests.
- 2017 Webby AwardBest Web Personality/Host for It’s Okay to Be Smart.
Quotes
I believe science is the greatest tool humans have ever come up with to keep us from fooling ourselves.Joe Hanson, YouTube’s Creator Voices
Writing in October 2022 about helping viewers rediscover curiosity and understand how scientists know what they know.
Trivia
- He captained his junior high academic team before becoming a quiz-show host.
- His Ph.D. research examined mobile elements in bacterial genomes and their potential use in genetic engineering.
- He describes himself as a science dad and says he has an addiction to dad jokes.
Find Joe
Follow Joe for science, curiosity and dad jokes.
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