Vanessa Hill
Vanessa Hill is an Australian sleep scientist and the creator of BrainCraft, where she explores psychology, neuroscience and the habits that keep us up at night.
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Latest
Vanessa’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
YouTube / PBS
YouTube Originals
PBS Digital StudiosOverview
- Known as
- Dr Vanessa Hill, creator and host of BrainCraft
- Work
- Sleep scientist, science communicator and video creator
- Started
- BrainCraft launched in November 2013; PBS followed in 2014.
- Research focus
- Bedtime procrastination, technology and behavior change
Mini bio
How it started.
Vanessa began by teaching science in remote parts of Australia. Her interest in reaching people online led to a web series of DIY experiments, and she later developed BrainCraft while studying science communication at Australian National University.
The BrainCraft breakthrough.
BrainCraft launched in November 2013 with Is Google Killing Your Memory? She took the idea to PBS Digital Studios in New York, bringing psychology and neuroscience to viewers through stop-motion paper animation. PBS picked up the series in 2014.
Beyond the short explainer.
In 2017, she wrote and directed Mutant Menu, a film about the science and ethics of gene editing and PBS Digital Studios’ first long-form video. She later created the YouTube Originals sleep competition Sleeping With Friends and hosted Crash Course Public Health.
Research meets everyday life.
Her doctoral research at CQUniversity investigated bedtime procrastination in people starting their careers, including a program to reduce evening screen use. Today, her videos and writing bring sleep research into everyday conversations about winding down, screens and the pressure to perfect our health. Her official biography lists her as an Adjunct Research Fellow at CQUniversity and a Health Communication Fellow at the Museum of Science, Boston.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2022Crash Course Public HealthHost
- 2020Sleeping With FriendsCreator and host
- 2017Mutant MenuWriter, director and presenter
- 2013 onwardBrainCraftCreator, host and producer
Awards
- Silver Telly Award2021 · Sleeping With Friends, Best Series, Reality. Listed on Vanessa’s professional profile.
- Buzzie Award: Science Communicator of the Year2020 · Inaugural Nat Geo award, World Congress of Science and Factual Producers. Listed on Vanessa’s professional profile.
- Buzzie Award: Best Short Form Series, Science2020 · BrainCraft, season six. Listed on Vanessa’s professional profile.
Quotes
I thought stop-motion animation was a fun, accessible and unique way to learn about psychology and neuroscience.Vanessa Hill, Australian National University
In a 2016 alumni interview, she described the idea she took to PBS Digital Studios.
Trivia
- The description of her first BrainCraft video thanks Derek Muller for reviewing the script and earlier versions.
- She is represented in the IF/THEN exhibit celebrating women in STEM.
- She says she started writing on Substack partly because she enjoys writing and synthesizing scientific literature.
Find Vanessa
Follow her for sleep research, new videos and a little help winding down.
Are you Vanessa Hill?
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