Gabrielle Birchak is a science communicator, podcast host, author, and performer who makes STEM history feel alive, inclusive, and relevant. As the creator and host of Math! Science! History!®, she blends rigorous research with compelling stories to uncover the forgotten people and pivotal ideas that shaped science, and she shows how they still shape the innovations and debates of today. Her audience spans the globe, with listeners across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
As the author of Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life, Birchak explores STEM’s past from ancient Mesopotamia to modern breakthroughs. Her writing celebrates often-overlooked contributors, especially women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community. She has been featured in the Mathematical Association of America blog, NASA/JPL’s Universe newspaper, and DC Metro Magazine. She has also edited nonfiction and fiction projects, including the sci-fi podcast and novel Paladin Corps: Book 1.
Birchak’s creative life extends well beyond the page and the mic. A performer at heart, she has worked as a stand-up comedian, model, singer, and actress, with screen credits including Ghost Adventures and A Mother’s Battle (2024). She produced and starred in her own comedy series on YouTube and trended on Funny or Die. In 2008, she beat out hundreds of comedic competitors in the international Project Breakout competition, earning over 18,000 public votes and recognition from entertainment industry judges to win the position of Field Reporter at the Democratic National Convention. For Birchak, performance and science communication aren’t two separate callings; they are one and the same.
With degrees in mathematics and journalism, Birchak brings deep research, analytical precision, and a storyteller’s instinct to her work. A member of honor societies, including Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Alpha Pi, she participates in scholarly organizations such as the Mathematical Association of America and the History of Science Society.
Whether in front of a camera, behind a mic, digging in the archives, or speaking on stage, Birchak’s mission is the same: to connect the breakthroughs of the past with the questions and innovations shaping our world today.