First-Gen Alum Turned Physics Instructor, YouTuber Inspires Students Worldwide

David Jackson, 1984-87
Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Dickenson College 

Dr. David Jackson never planned to go to college. Nobody in his family had pursued a degree. Instead, he spent the early 1980s after high school working on his dream of rock-and-roll stardom. At one point, his group did make it through “a battle of the bands” and got some airplay on the radio. 

Still, his love of mathematics inspired him to start taking math classes at Bellevue College in 1984. He earned his associate degree in 1987 and decided to transfer to the University of Washington. From there, his deepening love of math and fascination with physics led to him earning his Master of Arts and Ph.D. at Princeton. 

“I was a first-generation college student,” he recalled, noting he hadn’t been particularly academic while in high school, although he had always liked math. “But when I got to college, I found I loved everything. I had to take French at Bellevue College and loved it. I had to take history and sociology, and it was all, ‘Oh my gosh, these are so fun.’ I transferred to UW in electrical engineering, but it wasn’t broad enough. Physics was all-encompassing, and I thought it was the best fit for me. 

Nearly 40 years later, his joyful enthusiasm for physics can be seen in his popular YouTube videos designed to explain physics concepts. His channel, “All Things Physics,” has more than 45,000 subscribers. In the videos, Jackson explores everything from “the most mind-blowing aspect of circular motion” to “the beauty of Schlieren imaging.” 

Although Jackson’s full-time teaching jobs keep him from making as many videos as he would like, he plans to continue his series and even expand it after retirement. 

 “I knew I was creative, but I never felt artistic,” he said. “And while physics isn’t very artistic, making videos definitely is!”            

Even though he doesn’t have the time (yet) to compose his own music for his online physics explanations, he could see adding that to his productions in the future and using his rock-and-roll experience as well. 

The videos also tie back to one of his biggest inspirations at Bellevue College, math professor Dale Hoffman.     

“I remember him from multi-variable calculus,” Jackson recalled.  “He had all these colored chalks, and he would do these beautiful drawings on the board.”          

Hoffman also developed some early computer programs to visualize equations in three dimensions. “I was so inspired by him as a teacher and a mathematician that I started learning to program.” 

Today, Jackson hopes his own animations and filmed experiments will inspire students to explore the fun of physics and math all over the world.