{{Short description|American science communicator (born 1989)}} {{good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{infobox social media personality | name = Dianna Cowern | logo = | image = Dianna Cowern in August 2021 (cropped).png | image_caption = Cowern in August 2021 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|5|4}} | education = [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] ([[Bachelor of Science|SB]])<ref name="McDonald" /><ref name="Lanning">{{Cite web |last=Lanning |first=Carly |date=March 18, 2015 |title=YouTube's Physics Girl is science-loving superhero |url=http://www.dailydot.com/upstream/physics-girl-youtube-wcw/ |website=[[The Daily Dot]]}}</ref> | occupation = Science communicator | website = {{Official URL}} | youtube_id = UC7DdEm33SyaTDtWYGO2CwdA | youtube_display_name = Physics Girl | youtube_years_active = 2011–present | youtube_genre = [[Science education]] | youtube_subscribers = 3.48 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 525 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = March 3, 2026 }} '''Dianna Cowern''' (born May 4, 1989) is an American [[science communicator]] and physicist, who has run the YouTube channel '''''Physics Girl''''' since its inception in 2011. Her videos explain physical phenomena in everyday life, using an informal, fast-paced style. The series was produced in partnership with the [[PBS Digital Studios]] from 2015 until 2020.
Cowern started ''Physics Girl'' in 2011 after graduating with a bachelor's degree in physics from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]. After winning a 2014 video competition from the [[Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science]], the series started being produced by PBS Digital Studios, whereupon she began working on content creation full-time. Cowern won Best Web Personality at the [[2018 Webby Awards]] and was included in the 2019 [[Forbes 30 under 30]]. She developed [[long COVID]] in July 2022, becoming housebound and unable to produce videos until 2026.
== Early life and education == Dianna Cowern was born on May 4, 1989, and raised on [[Kauai]] island in Hawaii.<ref name="McDonald" /> Her father was a [[Tree plantation|tree farmer]] and her mother ran a [[bed and breakfast]].<ref group="dc" name=":1">{{Citation |title=Dianna Cowern: Dead or Alive |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puXKFn-nKis |work=3b1b Podcast | date=August 31, 2021 |volume=4 |access-date=March 4, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Through most of her early education, Cowern was fascinated by [[mathematics]].<ref group="dc" name=":1" /> She attended the [[Island School (Hawaii)|Island School]]<ref group="dc">Cowern, Dianna. https://x.com/thephysicsgirl/status/1377495163036184576. X. March 31, 2021. [https://ghostarchive.org/archive/qK1C4 Archived] from the original on April 23, 2026. "Island School on Kauai. The tiny one. That’s really cool!! Where do they teach geology in Hawaiian?"</ref>: a K-12 private school that had eighty students in her high school class, and has credited her two physics teachers with sparking her interest in the subject.<ref name="McDonald" /><ref name="Weisberger" /><ref name="Manaster">{{Cite news |last=Manaster |first=Joanne |date=June 9, 2014 |title=Meet 'The Physics Girl' Winner of Alan Alda's 'What is Color?' Video Contest |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/psi-vid/meet-the-physics-girl-winner-of-alan-alda-s-what-is-color-video-contest/ |access-date=April 11, 2025 |work=[[Scientific American]]}}</ref> During this time, she was inspired by [[Neil deGrasse Tyson]] and became interested in [[science communication]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=March 16, 2017 |title=Meet Physics Girl, the YouTuber who makes a living explaining science |language=en |work=Science {{!}} AAAS |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/meet-physics-girl-youtuber-who-makes-living-explaining-science |access-date=February 6, 2018}}</ref> In her junior year, Cowern was named a Commended Student in the 2007 [[National Merit Scholarship Program]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 29, 2006 |title=Island School student recognized by National Merit Scholarship Program |url=https://www.thegardenisland.com/2006/09/29/news/island-school-student-recognized-by-national-merit-scholarship-program/ |work=[[The Garden Island]] |location=Lihue, Hawaii, U.S. |language=en |no-pp=y}}</ref>
Cowern studied physics at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT), graduating in 2011 with a [[Bachelor of Science]].<ref name=":0" /> While at MIT, she researched [[dark matter]] under [[Jocelyn Monroe]]. After graduation, Cowern was a research fellow at the [[Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics]], where she researched [[Metallicity|low-metallicity]] stars under [[Anna Frebel]].<ref name="Bidwell" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author=PBS Education |date=October 26, 2019 |title=Why Being Held Back Was the Push Forward I Needed |url=https://www.pbs.org/education/blog/why-being-held-back-was-the-push-forward-i-needed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217042201/https://www.pbs.org/education/blog/why-being-held-back-was-the-push-forward-i-needed |archive-date=February 17, 2017 |website=PBS Education}}</ref> After her fellowship, she moved to [[San Diego]].<ref name="Fox">{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Julie |date=June 26, 2019 |title=Dianna Cowern '11 |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/06/26/134698/dianna-cowern-11/ |access-date=April 11, 2025 |work=[[MIT Technology Review]]}}</ref>
== Career == [[File:Physics Girl logo.png|thumb|The logo of the ''Physics Girl'' YouTube channel]] Cowern started her [[YouTube]] channel on October 21, 2011.<ref name=":3" group="dc">{{Cite web |title=Physics Girl - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@physicsgirl/about |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> Her first video, "What to do with a physics degree...", was made shortly after she finished college.<ref name="Fox" /> Cowern made it as a joke for friends, but it got more views than she expected.<ref name="Weisberger" /><ref name="Manaster" /> As her videos gained viewers, she renamed her channel ''Physics Girl'' and shifted toward teaching physics concepts.<ref name="Fox" /> When Cowern started making videos, she worked as an [[iPad]] app developer at [[General Electric Company|General Electric]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Morehead" /> She then worked as an educator at [[Fleet Science Center]]<ref name="Fox" /> and the outreach coordinator at [[University of California at San Diego]]'s [[Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences]] research unit.<ref name="McDonald">{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Kim |date=June 5, 2014 |title=UC San Diego's 'Physics Girl' Wins National Competition |url=https://today.ucsd.edu/story/uc_san_diegos_physics_girl_wins_national_competition |website=[[University of California, San Diego]]}}</ref>
In 2014, Cowern won the top video prize in the Flame Challenge from the [[Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science]] at [[Stony Brook University]]. The competition, which had the topic "What is color?", was judged by fifth-grade students.<ref name="McDonald" /><ref name="Jensen" /><ref name="Ash">{{Cite news |last=Ash |first=Summer |date=December 13, 2014 |title=Week in Geek: Physics by the swimming pool |url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-geek-physics-the-swimming-pool-msna480021 |access-date=April 11, 2024 |work=[[MSNBC]]}}</ref> Her channel became popular around this time; in the following months, she had some [[viral video]]s and collaborated with YouTubers such as [[Veritasium]].<ref name="Lanning" /> A December 2014 video explaining [[fluid dynamics]] by creating a [[vortex]] in a swimming pool was her first to get five million views.<ref name="Ash" /><ref name="Morehead" /> After news coverage of Cowern winning the Flame Challenge, she was contacted by [[PBS Digital Studios]].<ref name="Morehead">{{Cite news |last=Morehead |first=James |date=August 16, 2016 |title=YouTuber and Physicist Dianna Cowern on Creating Physics Girl |url=https://onedublin.org/2016/08/16/youtuber-and-physicist-dianna-cowern-on-creating-physics-girl/ |access-date=April 11, 2025 |work=OneDublin.org}}</ref> The studio began producing ''Physics Girl'' in 2015, when the channel had about 35 videos and 125 thousand subscribers. The channel became Cowern's full-time job.<ref name="Kwok" /> That year, she participated in a conference organized by the [[U.S. News & World Report]] in San Diego.<ref name="Bidwell">{{Cite news |last=Bidwell |first=Allie |date=August 4, 2015 |title='Physics Girl' Tells How She Makes Kids Love STEM |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/stem-solutions/articles/2015/08/04/physics-girl-dianna-cowern-tells-how-she-makes-kids-love-stem |access-date=April 11, 2025 |work=[[U.S. News and World Report]]}}</ref><ref name="Jensen">{{Cite news |last=Jensen |first=Nels |date=June 22, 2015 |title=She Breaks First Law of Thermodynamics |work=[[San Diego Business Journal]] |pages=3 |id={{EBSCOhost|103550276}}}}</ref>
[[File:DiannaCowern.png|thumb|Cowern during [[Vidcon]] 2018]] By 2017, PBS Digital Studios produced thirty-two ''Physics Girl'' videos per year.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Reist">{{Cite news |last=Reist |first=Margaret |date=April 10, 2017 |title=Physics Girl, a YouTube star, encourages UNL scientists to stay curious |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/physics-girl-a-youtube-star-encourages-unl-scientists-to-stay-curious/article_fcf657e1-90c6-5dcf-87d2-06138f9503c6.html |access-date=April 11, 2025 |work=[[Lincoln Journal-Star]]}}</ref> The channel featured [[ArcAttack]] in a 2016 video about [[electromagnet]]s<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grossman |first=David |date=June 14, 2016 |title=Watch Powerful Electromagnets Rip a Pathetic Soda Can in Half |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a21342/electromagnets-crushing-can/ |access-date=April 12, 2025 |work=[[Popular Mechanics]]}}</ref> and [[Rodney Mullen]] in a 2018 video about [[axes of rotation]] in [[skateboarding trick]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miley |first=Jessica |date=June 10, 2018 |title=Watch How This Skateboarding Trick Defies The Laws of Physics |url=https://interestingengineering.com/videos/watch-how-this-skateboarding-trick-defies-the-laws-of-physics |access-date=April 12, 2025 |work=Interesting Engineering}}</ref> In 2019, Cowern hosted the 2019 [[Google Science Fair]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=O'Neill |first=Sean |date=December 1, 2019 |title=Engineering Stars at Google Science Fair |journal=Engineering |volume=5 |issue=6 |pages=987–988 |doi=10.1016/j.eng.2019.10.008 |bibcode=2019Engin...5..987O |issn=2095-8099|doi-access=free }}</ref> On September 25, 2020, Cowern announced that her channel was ending its partnership with the PBS.<ref group="dc">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa5jQWJaFoQ |title=Why it's impossible to make a red bubble… or IS it?! |date=September 25, 2020 |last=Cowern |first=Dianna |accessdate=September 25, 2020}}</ref> A 2021 series of ''Physics Girl'' videos, sponsored by [[Toyota]], demonstrated a [[hydrogen fuel cell car]] and discussed [[renewable energy]]. By 2022, she was one of the most-subscribed science communicators on YouTube.<ref name="Dahn & Cummings">{{Cite journal |last1=Dahn |first1=Ryan |last2=Cummings |first2=Cynthia |date=June 1, 2022 |title=New books & media |url=https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article/75/6/56/2844704/New-books-amp-media |journal=Physics Today |volume=75 |issue=6 |pages=56 |doi=10.1063/PT.3.5023 |bibcode=2022PhT....75f..56D |issn=0031-9228}}</ref>
== Channel style == ''Physics Girl'' is about physical phenomena in everyday life.<ref name="Fox" /><ref name="Weisberger">{{Cite news |last=Weisberger |first=Mindy |date=August 18, 2016 |title=YouTube's 'Physics Girl' Delivers on Fun and Science |url=https://www.livescience.com/55810-youtube-physics-girl.html |access-date=April 11, 2025 |work=[[Live Science]]}}</ref> The videos have an eccentric, informal style.<ref name="Manaster" /> The channel has covered topics including [[curveball]]s and creating a cloud with one's mouth, as well as higher-level physics concepts.<ref name="Weisberger" /><ref name="Bidwell" /><ref name="Fox" /> It also has an [[AP Physics]] exam review series.<ref name="Dahn & Cummings" /> Cowern's videos are edited with frequent [[jump cut]]s;<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Murphy |first1=Lauren |chapter=Editing Video |date=2023 |title=The Craft of Scientific Films |page=134 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-031-25645-5_8 |access-date=April 13, 2025 |place=Cham |publisher=[[Springer International Publishing]] |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-25645-5_8 |isbn=978-3-031-25644-8 |last2=Alley |first2=Michael}}</ref> she told ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' in 2018 that her videos took up to a week to make and that she made fast-paced videos because viewers "can click away at any moment."<ref name="Kwok">{{Cite journal |last=Kwok |first=Roberta |date=January 4, 2018 |title=Put it on camera: How to get into scientific film- and video-making |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-08862-6 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=553 |issue=7686 |pages=117–119 |doi=10.1038/d41586-017-08862-6 |bibcode=2018Natur.553..117K |issn=0028-0836}}</ref>
Cowern has said her goals are to give children an interest in physics and to show underrepresented groups such as [[women in science]].<ref name="Bidwell" /><ref name="Fox" /> According to media scholar Nicholas Qyll, Cowern is part of "a new generation of self-confident scientists who use entertaining communication of scientific topics on social media to reach and give lasting inspiration to an increasingly large audience".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Qyll |first=Nicholas |title=Selbstmarketing für Wissenschaftler*innen |date=October 8, 2021 |publisher=[[Springer International Publishing]] |isbn=978-3-658-33839-8 |editor-last=Adlmeier-Herbst |editor-first=D. Georg |page=104 |language=de |trans-title=Personal Marketing for Scientists |chapter=Gastbeitrag: Social Media im Selbstmarketing |trans-chapter=Guest Contribution: Social Media in Personal Marketing |doi=10.1007/978-3-658-33839-8_8 |quote=Sie alle gehören zu einer neuen Generation von selbstbewussten Wissenschaftler*innen, die durch die unterhaltsame Vermittlung von wissenschaftlichen Themen über (soziale) Medien eine immer größere Öffentlichkeit erreichen und nachhaltig begeistern. |editor-last2=Mayer |editor-first2=Annette}}</ref>
== Awards and honors == In 2018, Cowern won a [[Webby Award]] for Best Web Personality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Dianna Cowern – Physics Girl – The Webby Awards |url=https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2018/film-video/video-channels-networks/web-personality-channels-networks/dianna-cowern-physics-girl/?/ |access-date=March 18, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The following year, she was listed in [[Forbes 30 under 30]] in the category of education.<ref name="Fox" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019 |title=Dianna Cowern |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/dianna-cowern/ |access-date=April 10, 2025 |work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> On March 17, 2025, the [[International Astronomical Union]] named the asteroid [[21943 Diannacowern]], previously designated as {{mp|1999 VG|114}}, in recognition of her contributions to science communication.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WGSBN Bulletin March 2025 |url=https://www.wgsbn-iau.org/files/Bulletins/V005/WGSBNBull_V005_004.pdf#page=25 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |language=en-US |website=IAU: WG Small Bodies Nomenclature}}</ref>
== Personal life == In May 2022, Cowern announced that she had recently married Kyle Kitzmiller.<ref group="dc">{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2022 |title=Instagram post dated May 20, 2022 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CdyfyhDJD5t/ |access-date=January 21, 2023 |website=Instagram}}</ref> In July 2022, Cowern developed [[long COVID]].<ref group="dc" name="Instagram_10Nov2022">{{Cite web |last=Cowern |first=Dianna |title=Instagram post dated Nov. 10 2022 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CkrmrpOplFD/ |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en |quote=Since July, I've been struggling with what's called "Long COVID." [...] mine is very similar to Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).}}</ref> She was hospitalized in March 2023 as her symptoms, similar to [[myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome]], continued to worsen.<ref group="dc">{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2023 |title=Twitter Status dated March 3, 2023 |url=https://twitter.com/thephysicsgirl/status/1631506800687349760 |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=Twitter}}</ref><ref group="dc" name="Instagram_10Nov2022"/> She became unable to move and stayed at home, with her husband as her caretaker.<ref group="dc">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1wbnIsYApA |title=Severe ME/CFS Caregiver: Kyle Kitzmiller |date=October 25, 2024 |publisher=Bateman Horne Center |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> Cowern's sister created a donation fund.<ref name="CBSLong2023">{{Cite news |last=Arenas |first=Jasmine |date=March 5, 2023 |title=YouTuber "Physics Girl" dealing with long COVID as her sister helps from Denver |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/youtuber-physics-girl-long-covid-sister-helps-from-denver/ |access-date=March 6, 2023}}</ref> In a January 2025 YouTube video, Cowern said that she is able to stand on her own for short periods of time.<ref group="dc">{{cite web|title=Dianna stands for the first time in 2 years!|url=https://youtube.com/shorts/2ntx91cOYEc?si=29C8r14BlAbF9QHB|date=January 24, 2025|access-date=January 24, 2025|website=YouTube}}</ref> In May 2025, she posted an update to her channel, indicating that she had improved significantly and was able to walk independently.<ref group="dc">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqeIeIcDHD0 |title=First Update From Dianna |date=May 22, 2025 |last=Physics Girl |access-date=May 23, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> From July to September 2025, her health had declined, leading to her being bedridden again.<ref group="dc">{{Cite web |url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/diannas-crash-139352198 |website=Patreon |title=Dianna's Crash - Health Update - Summer 2025 |date=September 20, 2025 |access-date=September 20, 2025 |author=Physics Girl |quote=Dianna has been in another crash for a while now. [...] Setbacks last for months, and they put Dianna in a physical and mental state reminiscent of 2023 and 2024—the dark, bed-bound years. For the most part, Dianna has been bed-bound again.}}</ref> As of January 2026, she has improved somewhat, and has again become able to produce science videos<ref group="dc">{{Cite web |url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/spoiler-alert-in-149359322 |website=Patreon |title=Spoiler Alert! - First Science Video In 3 Years |date= January 28, 2026}}</ref> with her first video in three years published in March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title= My first science video in 3 years! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3m3AMRlYfc |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref>
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==External links== {{Sister project auto}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowern, Dianna}} [[Category:1989 births]] [[Category:21st-century American physicists]] [[Category:21st-century American women physicists]] [[Category:American science communicators]] [[Category:American women physicists]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:MIT School of Science alumni]] [[Category:People from Kauai]] [[Category:People with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome]] [[Category:Science-related YouTube channels]] [[Category:Scientists from Hawaii]] [[Category:YouTubers from Hawaii]]