Hank Green visited the UWM campus on Dec. 5 as part of the student involvement lecture series.
In this one-on-one discussion, Green tackled all varieties of topics from AI, media literacy, business, mental health, and of course science all in humorous Hank Green fashion.
The discussion was moderated by UWM Chief Innovation and Partner Officer, Brian Thompson.
The audience was packed with enthused UWM students, many of whom have grown up watching Green on YouTube. Everyone was prohibited from photography or recording during the event.
He stayed as humble as ever, even when receiving universal acclaim and roaring applause from the audience.
Green revealed to the audience that he has been working on a non-fiction pop science book that he plans on releasing.
“It is explicitly a science book,” Green said. “It’s pretty much done but I am waiting on an editor.”
During the Q&A section of the lecture, one student asked Green “Beyond college, do you have any advice or assurances for finding meaning or identity beyond post-grad?”
This was a vulnerable moment of the lecture where Green took the time to answer this question with care and diligence.
Green said, “I think for me meaning is all about like each other.”
He couldn’t say exactly how one can objectively find their identity, but he recommended that volunteering helps in finding community.
“Be open to like whatever a little bit,” Green said, “It’s a big country and there’s lots of cool in it.”
Hank Green asked the audience to participate in a YouTube video.
Everyone yelled, “Good morning, John, it’s Friday,” as Green panned across the audience recording with his camera.
This clip was then featured at the beginning of a video posted on the vlogbrothers YouTube channel the next day.
This was a sold-out ticketed event that was free for UWM students to attend.
There was a Boswell Book Company booth outside the room offering copies for sale of Green’s books and a photo opportunity with a cardboard cutout of him.
