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Mark Rober is an American YouTuber, engineer, inventor, and educator. He is known for his YouTube videos on popular science and do-it-yourself gadgets. Before he became a YouTuber, Rober was an engineer with NASA for nine years, where he spent seven years working on the Curiosity rover at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He later worked for four years at Apple Inc. as a product designer in their Special Projects Group, where he authored patents involving virtual reality in self-driving cars.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Rober was raised in Brea, California, the youngest of three siblings. He graduated from Brea Olinda High School in 1998.[1][2] He became interested in engineering at a young age, making a pair of goggles that helped avoid eye irritation while cutting onions.[3] Rober graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. He later earned a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2014.[4]

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Rober joined NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in 2004.[5] He worked there for nine years, seven of which were spent working on the Curiosity rover, which is now on Mars.[4] He designed and delivered hardware on several JPL missions, including AMT, GRAIL, SMAP, and Mars Science Laboratory.[6] While at NASA, Rober was one of the primary architects for "JPL Wired", which was a comprehensive knowledge capture wiki.[6] He published a case study about applying wiki technology in a high-tech organization to develop an "Intrapedia" for the capture of corporate knowledge.[7]

Science communication

[edit]

While at NASA, Rober began making viral videos.[3] His videos cover a wide variety of topics, sparking ideas for April Fools' Day pranks[8][9] and teaching about beating an escape room and filming primates in zoos non-invasively.[3] He also advocates for science in many of his videos.[10][11][12]

In October 2011, Rober recorded his first YouTube video. It shows a Halloween costume that used two iPads to create the illusion of seeing through his body.[13] His video of the "gaping hole in torso" costume went viral, receiving 1.5 million views in one day.[14][15] The following year, Rober launched Digital Dudz, an online Halloween costume company that specializes in Halloween costumes based on the same concept as the video (to which Rober holds the patent). The company took in $250,000 in revenue in its first three weeks of operations, and by 2013 his app-integrated costumes were sold in retail stores such as Party City.[13][16][17] The costumes were widely featured on news channels such as CBS News, CNN, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Fox, Yahoo! News, Discovery Channel, The Today Show and GMA.[18] He sold the company to UK-based costume company Morphsuits in 2013.[16]

Demonstration of Mark Rober's glitter bomb

In December 2018, Rober posted a video showing how he tricked parcel thieves with an engineered contraption that sprayed glitter on the thieves, emitted a foul odor, and captured video of the thieves.[19][20] The video went viral, receiving 25 million views in one day. Rober later removed two of the five incidents caught on tape after discovering that two of the thieves were actually friends of a person he hired to help catch the package thieves.[20][21] Rober posted a follow-up in December 2019, teaming up with Macaulay Culkin and featuring an improved design.[22] Rober would post another follow up a year later with a third edition of the bomb.[23] While designing it, Rober collaborated with Jim Browning, Scammer Payback, and various state and federal authorities to use the glitter-bomb bait package as a tactic to track and arrest money mules and their supervisors, who were working with scamming call centers in India to rob elderly people of thousands of dollars. This was in conjunction with a multi-Youtuber movement to get back at and shut down scam callers, while raising awareness to prevent other people from being scammed.[24] The videos resulted in the shutdown of these call centers and the arrest of 15 senior officials involved in the scams.[25]

In 2021, Rober released the video Backyard Squirrel Maze, showing a backyard obstacle course he built to deter squirrels from stealing food from his bird feeders. He released a follow-up video of an updated obstacle course a year later. By September 2023, the original video had 114 million views; the second video, 80 million and the third, 25 million.[26]

Rober has contributed articles to Men's Health,[27] and gave a TEDx presentation in 2015 How to Come Up with Good Ideas[4] and another one entitled The Super Mario Effect – Tricking Your Brain into Learning More.[28] He has also made numerous appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!,[8] including guest-hosting the show in July 2022.[29]

In 2018, it was reported that Rober had been secretly working on virtual reality projects for Apple Inc.,[30] including the company's on-board entertainment for self-driving cars, for which Rober wrote two virtual reality-related patents.[31] Rober worked as a product designer in Apple's Special Projects Group from 2015 to early 2020.[32] In 2020, Rober starred in a Discovery Channel hidden-camera show Revengineers alongside Jimmy Kimmel.[26] He also starred in the series This is Mark Rober on Discovery.[33]

In October 2019, MrBeast and Rober released a project labeled #TeamTrees, after a tweet that suggested that MrBeast should plant 20 million trees. MrBeast and Rober worked with YouTubers across the globe in an effort to make this come true. The goal was to raise $20,000,000 for the Arbor Day Foundation by 2020, while the Arbor Day Foundation would plant one tree for each dollar raised.[34] In 2021, he founded #TeamSeas with MrBeast, which raised over $34 million to clean up beaches and seas, along with removing one pound of trash for each dollar donated, with help from The Ocean Cleanup.[35]

Rober and MrBeast launched Team Water in 2025. The project is a collaborative fundraiser that is a follow-up to the Team Trees and Team Seas campaigns.[36] By August 2025, over $40 million dollars was raised for WaterAid.[37] He is also set to host a Netflix competition in 2026. The show is to be produced by Jimmy Kimmel and CrunchLabs.[38]

CrunchLabs

[edit]
Main article: CrunchLabs

Rober is the founder of CrunchLabs, an educational technology company he launched in 2022. The company creates hands-on STEM learning experiences and subscription box services (known as CrunchLabs Build Boxes) that contain building projects and engineering challenges for children.[26][39]

Personal life

[edit]

Rober moved to Sunnyvale, California, in 2015.[32] Rober is an advocate for autism awareness, as his son has autism.[40] In April 2021, Rober and Jimmy Kimmel hosted a live stream, raising $3 million in support of NEXT for AUTISM.[41] In September 2024, Rober posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had been divorced for three and a half years.[42]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

In 2021, the Institution of Engineering and Technology awarded Rober a one-off prize as STEM Personality of the Year[43] and later named him an Honorary Fellow in recognition of his contribution to the engineering profession.[44]

Rober also delivered the 2023 commencement address at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[45]

In 2024, Rober was presented with the FIRST Robotics Competition Founder's Award at the FIRST Championship in recognition of his efforts to expand access to STEM education and robotics programs.[46]

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2018 8th Streamy Awards Science or Education Mark Rober Nominated [47]
2019 9th Streamy Awards Won [48]
2020 10th Streamy Awards Learning and Education Won [49]
Nonprofit or NGO Team Trees (Mark Rober and MrBeast) Won
2021 11th Streamy Awards Science and Engineering Mark Rober Won [50]
Nonprofit or NGO NEXT for AUTISM's Color the Spectrum LIVE[a]
(Mark Rober and Jimmy Kimmel) 		Won
2022 26th Webby Awards Webby Film & Video Person of the Year Mark Rober Won [51]
12th Streamy Awards Creator of the Year Nominated [52]
Science and Engineering Won
Collaboration Mark Rober, Jim Browning, and Trilogy Media[b] Won
Social Good: Creator Team Seas (Mark Rober and MrBeast) Won
Brand Engagement Won
Social Impact Campaign Nominated
2023 13th Streamy Awards Science and Engineering Mark Rober Nominated [53]
Creator Product CrunchLabs Nominated

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mark Rober

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from Grokipedia
Mark Rober is an American , inventor, educator, and prominent best known for creating entertaining and educational videos focused on , , and innovative gadgets. Born on March 11, 1980, in , Rober earned a degree in from in 2004, followed by a from the . He began his career at NASA's , where he worked for nine years as a mechanical engineer, spending seven of those years contributing to the development and deployment of the Curiosity Mars rover. In 2015, Rober joined 's Special Projects Group, where he spent four years designing systems for self-driving cars and authoring several related patents, before leaving in 2019 to pursue full-time. Rober started his YouTube channel in 2011, building it into a platform with over 71 million subscribers by November 2025 through monthly uploads of elaborate experiments and inventions, such as the glitter bomb series, beginning with the 2018 device designed to deter package thieves, which has amassed more than 93 million views as of November 2025. His philanthropy includes co-founding the 2019 #TeamTrees campaign with MrBeast, which raised $23 million to plant 23 million trees worldwide, the 2021 #TeamSeas initiative, which collected $30 million to remove 30 million pounds of trash from oceans, and in 2025, the #TeamWater campaign, which raised $40 million to provide clean water to 2 million people for decades. In 2022, Rober established CrunchLabs, a company offering subscription-based engineering kits to teach children problem-solving skills, and in 2025, it launched a free for grades 6–8 to further promote STEM . Rober has been recognized for his impact on , including delivering the 2023 commencement address at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and being named one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in 2022.

Early years

Early life

Mark Rober was born on March 11, 1980, in . He grew up in Brea as the youngest of three siblings in a household that fostered creativity and exploration, particularly encouraged by his mother. Rober was a , not speaking until age three or four, and was initially perceived as spacey or even "really dumb" by some, but he surprised his family by scoring exceptionally high on a third-grade . From an early age, Rober developed a passion for through tinkering with gadgets and constructing creative contraptions, which sparked his lifelong about how things work. He also enjoyed pranks and scheming, traits that his sister later recalled as typical of his mischievous younger-brother personality, such as substituting for in her glass. Rober excelled academically, particularly in math and physics, and participated in social activities like soccer. Rober attended , graduating in 1998. There, he found inspiration in subjects like physics, which appealed to his analytical mind, and , thanks to his teacher Mr. Malloy. These experiences solidified his interest in , leading him to pursue higher education in the field.

Education

Rober earned a in from in 2004. During his undergraduate studies, he completed key projects that highlighted his interest in engineering applications, including a senior capstone focused on detecting deformations in rods used for heat-exchanger units, which relate to propulsion systems. In 2013, Rober obtained a in from the , completing the program part-time while working full-time at NASA's .

Engineering career

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Following his graduation from Brigham Young University in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Mark Rober joined NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as a mechanical engineer. Rober spent nine years at JPL from 2004 to 2013, with seven of those years dedicated to the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which deployed the Curiosity rover to Mars in 2012. In this role, he focused on designing and testing critical hardware components essential to the rover's safe landing and operation on the Martian surface. His key responsibilities included developing the descent stage—often referred to as the "sky crane" system—that used rocket-powered thrusters to lower the rover from the spacecraft during entry, descent, and landing (EDL), as well as rover arms and top-deck mechanisms for sample collection. These contributions were integral to the innovative sky crane technique, which allowed Curiosity to touch down precisely in Gale Crater without the need for airbags or other traditional landing methods, enabling the rover to carry heavier scientific instruments. During his tenure, Rober also contributed to other JPL missions, such as the Asteroid Multitobject Spectrometer (AMT), Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL), and , where he designed and delivered space hardware. He received internal recognition for creating JPL Wired, a comprehensive that facilitated knowledge sharing across the laboratory. Rober left JPL in to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities beyond government-funded space projects.

Apple Inc.

In 2015, following his tenure at NASA, Mark Rober joined Apple Inc. as a product design engineer in the company's secretive Special Projects Group, where he contributed to initiatives in autonomous vehicle technology. His role involved leveraging engineering expertise to advance hardware and software integrations for self-driving systems, drawing briefly from his prior NASA background in adaptable, high-stakes technical environments. Rober remained with Apple for approximately four years, until 2019. During his time at Apple, Rober focused on innovations at the intersection of (VR) and automotive applications, particularly for enhancing user experiences in autonomous vehicles. He contributed to the development of hardware prototypes designed for (AR) and VR integrations within vehicle environments, aiming to provide immersive interfaces for passengers. These efforts addressed challenges such as in self-driving scenarios by incorporating stabilized VR displays that align with vehicle motion. Rober co-authored several patents related to these technologies, including one for an "Immersive Virtual Display" system that enables VR headsets in moving vehicles to mitigate sensory conflicts causing . Another patent he contributed to describes an "Augmented Virtual Display" mechanism, which dynamically adjusts VR content based on real-time vehicle data to create seamless human-machine interfaces for autonomous driving. These inventions underscored Apple's exploration of VR as onboard entertainment and testing tools for self-driving cars, with ongoing refinements pursued by the company after his departure. In 2019, Rober left Apple to pursue full-time and educational initiatives, transitioning his engineering skills to broader public engagement in science and technology.

Digital Dudz

In 2011, while employed as an engineer at NASA's , Mark Rober founded Digital Dudz, an online company specializing in animated Halloween that integrated with apparel. The venture originated from Rober's personal project that year: a simulating a gaping torso wound using two devices connected via , with one iPad strapped to his chest and the other to his back, creating an illusion of a hole through his body. This DIY creation, shared in a video, demonstrated Rober's application of his NASA-honed skills in mechanical design and integration to product innovation. Rober developed proprietary technology for Digital Dudz centered on motion-activated animations, utilizing a free smartphone app that leveraged the device's accelerometer and camera to synchronize dynamic visual effects with the wearer's movements. Users placed their phone in a designated holder on the costume—such as a t-shirt, mask, or suit—while the app projected looping GIFs or videos onto the screen, enhancing printed designs with effects like beating hearts, screaming ghosts, or shifting eyes. The 2011 iPad costume video went viral, amassing millions of views and establishing Rober as an innovator in wearable tech entertainment, which propelled early interest in his concepts. The company rapidly expanded from prototypes to commercial products, including interactive t-shirts, holiday sweaters, and full-body suits, achieving $250,000 in sales within its first month of operation in 2012. Digital Dudz grew to offer licensed designs, such as Marvel characters, and emphasized accessible, app-driven interactivity without requiring additional hardware beyond a standard . In summer 2013, Rober sold the company to the UK-based Morphsuits (also known as Morph Costumes), a manufacturer, for an undisclosed amount; the acquisition allowed Morphsuits to integrate Digital Dudz's into their product line under the Morph DigitalDudz brand. Following the sale, Rober provided brief consulting to the acquiring company, contributing to costume development for approximately two years before shifting his focus to other engineering opportunities. This entrepreneurial experience marked a pivotal step in Rober's career, bridging his background with consumer-facing innovation and highlighting the commercial potential of interactive apparel.

Science communication and media

YouTube channel

Mark Rober launched his YouTube channel in October 2011, initially uploading videos showcasing projects and creative hacks, such as a using two iPads to simulate a "gaping hole in the torso." His early content focused on practical demonstrations of technology and DIY inventions, drawing from his background in . The channel quickly gained traction with its first in late 2011, the , which highlighted Rober's ability to blend technical ingenuity with visual spectacle. Over the years, Rober maintained consistent uploads, evolving his format toward more elaborate, high-production builds that incorporated advanced challenges and scientific principles. As of November 2025, the channel has amassed over 71.7 million subscribers and more than 14.8 billion total views, reflecting its sustained growth and broad appeal. Rober's signature style features meticulously crafted experiments that integrate , humor, and , often presented through engaging and high-quality visuals to make complex concepts accessible. This approach has positioned his content as a key resource for STEM outreach, inspiring viewers—particularly young audiences—to explore and . Notable milestones include later viral successes like the 2020 "Backyard Squirrel Maze 1.0" video, which garnered over 141 million views by turning a backyard pest problem into an entertaining showcase. The channel's impact extends through high-profile collaborations, such as joint efforts with on initiatives like the 2025 #TeamWater campaign, which mobilized thousands of creators to raise funds for global clean water access. These partnerships have amplified Rober's reach, contributing to his role in popularizing STEM topics on platforms and encouraging widespread interest in engineering and scientific experimentation. After leaving his engineering roles at and Apple, Rober transitioned to full-time content creation, allowing him to dedicate himself to this educational mission.

Notable projects and inventions

One of Mark Rober's most prominent inventions is the Glitter Bomb, an anti-theft device designed to deter package thieves, first unveiled in 2018. The device, resembling a standard delivery box, incorporates GPS tracking to monitor its location, to record interactions, a mechanism to dispense biodegradable glitter upon opening, and sprinklers that release a foul-smelling to mark the perpetrator. Rober spent six months developing the with a collaborator, utilizing custom circuits for activation triggers, 3D-printed components for the housing and dispersal system, and microcontrollers to integrate sensors and timed responses. The initial version's demonstration video, released on December 17, 2018, quickly amassed tens of millions of views within days, highlighting its immediate viral appeal. Subsequent iterations, such as Glitter Bomb 2.0 in 2019, 3.0 in 2020, and 4.0 in 2021, refined the design with improved stealth features like self-locking mechanisms and additional skunk spray dispensers, further evolving the invention through iterative engineering. The series continued with additional versions up to 6.0 in 2023, as documented in the official playlist. In 2020, Rober created the Backyard Maze, an elaborate aimed at preventing squirrels from raiding feeders. The project, built over eight weeks, featured a multi-stage "ninja warrior" setup with swinging pendulums, rotating platforms, and pressure-sensitive gates, all powered by custom servo motors, 3D-printed obstacles, and Arduino-controlled electronics to reset and monitor progress. Squirrels navigated the course for a reward of nuts, with high-speed cameras capturing their attempts; the first iteration demonstrated remarkable animal adaptability, as participants completed it in under 30 seconds after practice. A sequel in 2021, titled "The Walnut Heist," expanded the maze with heist-themed elements like laser grids and pulley systems, incorporating more advanced custom circuits for dynamic challenges. These projects showcased Rober's expertise in , blending mechanical design with programmable logic to create engaging, functional prototypes. Rober's engineering ingenuity extended to the World's Largest Super Soaker in 2017, a World Record-holding measuring seven feet long and capable of propelling at speeds up to 272 miles per hour. Constructed over six months using pressure vessels, high-flow pumps, and reinforced tubing, the device integrated 3D-printed custom fittings and Arduino-based controls for valve timing to achieve its extreme performance without structural failure. The project emphasized and material strength, resulting in a functional that far exceeded standard backyard in scale and power. More recently, in 2025, Rober collaborated on documenting the controlled implosion of the 22-story Sheraton Crossroads Hotel in , which occurred on but was featured in a video released on November 1. The effort involved placing internal cameras and sensors to capture the structural collapse from multiple angles, with Rober incorporating custom rigs for synchronized data logging and 3D-printed mounts for equipment stability amid the . The video, which detailed the physics of explosive sequencing and building dynamics, garnered 7.6 million views within its first week, underscoring public fascination with large-scale engineering feats. These inventions have significantly influenced DIY and maker communities by demonstrating accessible engineering techniques, such as integrating affordable microcontrollers and , encouraging hobbyists to replicate and adapt similar projects for educational or practical purposes. While Rober has filed patents for various technologies during his career, select post-YouTube devices like the Glitter Bomb prompted explorations into protection, though specific filings for these viral creations remain tied to broader anti-theft innovations.

Philanthropic campaigns

Mark Rober has spearheaded several high-profile philanthropic campaigns in collaboration with fellow , leveraging viral online challenges to address environmental and humanitarian issues. These initiatives emphasize measurable outcomes, such as , , and water access, with donation mechanisms tied directly to impact metrics like dollars per tree or pound of trash removed. In 2019, Rober co-founded #TeamTrees, a campaign aimed at planting 20 million trees to combat . Partnering with and the , the effort raised over $23 million through donations, where each dollar funded one tree. The campaign featured engineering-inspired donation trackers and celebrity endorsements from creators across platforms, ultimately surpassing its goal and planting 23 million trees worldwide. Building on this success, Rober and launched #TeamSeas in 2021 to tackle . The initiative targeted raising $30 million to remove 30 million pounds of trash from oceans, rivers, and beaches, partnering with organizations like and . Through similar viral mechanics—including challenge videos and a real-time trash removal counter—the campaign exceeded expectations, raising approximately $34 million and facilitating the extraction of over 34 million pounds of waste. Most recently, in August 2025, Rober initiated #TeamWater, focusing on global clean water access amid ongoing water crises. Co-led with and supported by , the campaign sought $40 million to provide filtration technology and infrastructure, with each dollar enabling one year of clean water for an individual. Featuring creator collaborations and progress visualizations, it achieved its goal within the month, bringing clean water access to millions of people. Collectively, these campaigns have raised over $97 million, partnering with nonprofits to drive tangible environmental and through scalable, tech-enabled .

Educational ventures

CrunchLabs

CrunchLabs is a subscription-based STEM education company founded by Mark Rober in June 2022, aimed at fostering skills through hands-on toys. The company's core products are monthly build boxes designed for children ages 8-12, featuring engineering kits such as disc launchers, trip wires, and paper airplane launchers that encourage problem-solving and creativity. These kits emphasize practical application of engineering principles, with each box including components for independent assembly and instructional videos hosted by Rober himself. Business growth has included expansion into retail partnerships, notably a multi-year global licensing agreement with announced in May 2025 to distribute CrunchLabs products in stores starting summer 2026. Additionally, Camp CrunchLabs, a virtual summer program, launched in 2023 and returned in 2025 with space-themed weekly build boxes, challenges, and exclusive videos from Rober to engage participants in STEM exploration. By 2025, CrunchLabs had surpassed 100,000 subscribers, achieving this milestone within its first six months of operation and continuing to grow through its focus on hands-on learning that builds resilience and innovative thinking. The company's draws directly from Rober's background as a engineer, prioritizing durable, sustainable designs like wood-based toys and compostable packaging to inspire a new generation of builders. This approach mirrors the engaging, educational style of Rober's content, integrating video tutorials to guide users through projects.

Science curriculum and initiatives

In October 2025, Mark Rober announced through CrunchLabs a free curriculum called Class CrunchLabs, targeted at grades 6-8 and featuring lesson plans, instructional videos with Rober as the host, and hands-on experiments focused on physics and concepts. The , supported by a $7.2 million grant to the CrunchLabs.org Foundation, includes components such as guides, slides, readings and handouts, assessments, and activity videos providing professional tips for investigations and design challenges, like the pilot unit on (Mission Maglev). This resource draws from Rober's foundational work at CrunchLabs to emphasize phenomenon-based instruction and YouTube-style storytelling in a structured educational format. The curriculum is distributed freely to teachers via the CrunchLabs website, requiring no-cost sign-up for access to all materials, which are designed using common household supplies to ensure broad accessibility. It aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and other state science standards, supporting classroom integration through three-dimensional learning that combines disciplinary core ideas, science practices, and crosscutting concepts. Aimed particularly at underserved schools to promote equitable STEM engagement, the initiative seeks to transform science education by making it more engaging and inclusive. Beyond the core curriculum, Rober's initiatives include a with Netflix announced in August 2025, which will host a family-oriented competition series in 2026—co-produced with —and stream select experiments from his content library starting in late 2025 to expand educational reach. In October 2025, he delivered a at Adobe MAX on creative , , and viral , demonstrating how humor and visceral demonstrations can inspire . Additionally, following the annual Camp CrunchLabs summer program, ongoing free online challenges remain available through weekly videos on the CrunchLabs platform, encouraging participants to submit STEM projects for prizes and fostering continued hands-on learning in science and .

Personal life

Family

Mark Rober was married to Lisa Rober, a former at Apple, and the couple has one son born around 2009. They filed for divorce in July 2021 in Santa Clara County Superior Court, with the case closing later that year; Rober publicly announced in September 2024 that he had been divorced for 3.5 years, likely referring to the separation. Rober's son was diagnosed with autism, a detail he shared in a 2021 YouTube video titled "The Truth About my Son," where he described the child's joyful personality, unique talents like calculating dates, and the challenges of navigating on the internet. Through this and related personal stories, Rober has advocated for and raised funds for autism awareness initiatives, such as a livestream with benefiting NEXT for AUTISM. He has emphasized his protectiveness over his son, limiting public exposure while highlighting positive aspects to foster understanding. Rober maintains limited public details about his ex-spouse to her , focusing instead on broader family dynamics in his content. His parents provided key support during his career transitions from to Apple and eventually to full-time YouTube creation and entrepreneurship; in particular, Rober has credited his late mother as his greatest life influence for instilling core values that guided these shifts. Family occasionally appears in Rober's videos to illustrate engineering concepts, such as collaborative projects with his son that blend and problem-solving, underscoring the role of familial encouragement in his work.

Residence and advocacy

Mark Rober has lived in , since 2015, situating himself in the core of to facilitate collaboration within the technology and sectors. Rober actively advocates for greater accessibility in STEM education, with a particular emphasis on serving underrepresented groups such as first-generation and low-income students. Through partnerships like the Crunch Club program, developed in collaboration with Breakthrough Silicon Valley and Bridge for All, he provides afterschool STEM experiences tailored to these communities, promoting hands-on engineering skills to foster interest and participation in technical fields. He extends this advocacy via , including his 2018 TEDxPenn presentation on reframing learning processes to enhance and retention in science education. In environmental advocacy, Rober demonstrates personal commitments to through his work with CrunchLabs, where the company prioritizes eco-friendly practices such as compostable packaging, wood-based toy materials, and designs that emphasize durability and repairability to reduce waste and landfill contributions. Rober engages in community involvement by supporting autism resources and programs in the Bay Area. His efforts include hosting awareness-raising livestreams for organizations like NEXT for AUTISM to bolster support services, motivated in part by family experiences with . Additionally, he contributes to local through guest lectures and collaborations, such as his 2023 commencement address at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, inspiring students to embrace innovative problem-solving.

Awards and honors

Major awards

Mark Rober has received several prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to science education, engineering innovation, and media through his YouTube channel and inventive projects. In the field of digital content creation, Rober has been honored multiple times at the Streamy Awards, which celebrate excellence in online video. He won the Science or Education category at the 9th Annual Streamy Awards in 2019 for his engaging educational videos that blend engineering concepts with entertainment. In 2020, at the 10th Annual Streamy Awards, he received the Learning and Education award, highlighting his ability to make complex scientific topics accessible to broad audiences. Rober continued his success with wins in the Science and Engineering category at the 11th Annual Streamy Awards in 2021 and the 12th Annual in 2022, solidifying his status as a leading creator in STEM content. In 2022, Rober was honored as the at the 26th Annual for using his platform to educate people on and . For his broader impact on STEM inspiration, Rober was named STEM Personality of the Year by the (IET) in 2021, a one-off award during the IET's 150th anniversary celebrations, acknowledging his role in promoting and technology to global audiences through innovative storytelling. In recognition of his engineering achievements, including his work at and subsequent educational initiatives, the IET also bestowed upon him an Honorary Fellowship in 2020, one of the organization's highest honors for non-members who advance the profession. In 2022, Rober was named one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business for his innovative work in science communication and founding CrunchLabs. Rober's efforts to engage young people in earned him the Founder's Award at the 2024 , presented by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), for inspiring youth participation and innovation in STEM fields through his projects and advocacy.

Nominations and recognitions

Mark Rober has received several nominations for his contributions to online and . In 2023, he was nominated for the Streamy Award in the Best Science and Education Series category for his engaging YouTube videos that blend experiments with educational insights. Additionally, that year, Rober earned a nomination in the Creator Product category for his CrunchLabs subscription service, which delivers hands-on STEM kits to children. Rober has also been nominated for recognizing excellence in internet content. In 2025, he received a nomination in the Creators: Kids & Family category, highlighting his role in making science accessible and fun for younger audiences through his videos and initiatives. In 2024, he was nominated for a Kids' Choice Award Blimp in the Favorite Male Creator category, reflecting his broad appeal among young viewers. In 2025, Rober was again nominated for a Kids' Choice Award in the Favorite Male Creator category. Rober was featured in TIME's inaugural 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential Creators for his innovative approach to , turning complex topics into viral, educational entertainment. He has been honored with invitations to deliver keynote addresses at prestigious events, including the 2023 MIT Commencement, where he spoke on and innovation, and the 2024 National Teaching Association Conference, emphasizing hands-on learning in STEM.

References

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  4. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgeXOVaJo_gnexNopBzUKdl3QKoADJlS8
  5. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY1kMZp36IQSyNx_9h4mpCg
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoxhDk-hwuo
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  8. https://teamwater.org/
  9. https://www.crunchlabs.com/pages/about-us
  10. https://thejournal.com/articles/2025/10/22/mark-robers-crunchlabs-unveils-free-science-curriculum-for-grades-6-8.aspx
  11. https://www.fastcompany.com/90770755/mark-rober-crunchlabs-most-creative-people-2022
  12. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/mark-robers-brief-but-spectacular-take-on-being-amazed-at-the-world-around-us
  13. https://www.ocregister.com/2017/08/18/brea-grad-blasts-record-with-nerf-gun/
  14. https://mantalks.com/mark-rober/
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  17. https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/06/26/youtuber-mark-rober-has-been-developing-vr-tech-for-apples-self-driving-car-project
  18. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/26/youtuber-joins-apple-in-developing-vr-for-self-driving-cars.html
  19. https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/youtube-maerk-rober-apple-vr-1202858396/
  20. https://www.macrumors.com/2018/06/26/apple-vr-technology-autonomous-vehicles/
  21. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20180089901A1/en
  22. https://www.macrumors.com/2022/08/08/youtuber-mark-rober-talks-working-at-apple/
  23. https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/08/08/ex-apple-inventor-describes-how-his-vr-patent-works-to-solve-car-motion-sickness
  24. https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/226860-22
  25. https://www.cnet.com/culture/the-bloody-incredible-ipad-halloween-costume/
  26. https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/youtube-star-goes-viral-glitter-bomb-part-1
  27. https://www.wired.com/story/mark-rober-costumes/
  28. https://www.morphsuits.com/digital-dudz-info/
  29. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-10-18/a-nasa-engineer-builds-a-better-halloween-costume
  30. https://www.scotsman.com/business/morphsuit-maker-turning-to-costumes-1563924
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6p5mbp_M98
  32. https://henrybeaver.com/newserx/27642-mark-rober-the-mit-engineer-who-became-a-youtube-sensation
  33. https://hr.caltech.edu/news/caltech-hosts-youtube-science-sensation-mark-rober
  34. https://vidiq.com/youtube-stats/channel/UCY1kMZp36IQSyNx_9h4mpCg/
  35. https://www.speakrj.com/audit/report/UCY1kMZp36IQSyNx_9h4mpCg/youtube
  36. https://www.adobe.com/max/2025/sessions/mark-rober-on-science-storytelling-and-viral-impac-gs2-4.html
  37. https://www.favikon.com/blog/who-is-mark-rober
  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg
  39. https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/mrbeast-and-mark-rober-announce-team-water/
  40. https://www.castmagic.io/creators/mark-rober
  41. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianshepherd/2025/07/14/mark-robers-bold-plan-to-reach-one-billion-young-minds/
  42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4T_LlK1VE4
  43. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/mahwah/2025/11/04/mahwah-nj-sheraton-implosion-mark-rober-video/87070270007/
  44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XgcOz95hTs
  45. https://teamtrees.org/
  46. https://teamseas.org/
  47. https://www.discovery.com/nature/mark-rober-and-mrbeast-have-teamed-up-to-plant-20--million-trees
  48. https://www.arborday.org/news/arbor-day-foundation-and-teamtrees-hit-major-milestone-23-million-trees
  49. https://theoceancleanup.com/teamseas/
  50. https://oceanconservancy.org/newsroom/press-release/2024/07/16/news-mrbeast-and-mark-robers-teamseas-campaign-wraps-with-ocean-conservancy-and-partners-removing-34-million-pounds-of-trash-worldwide/
  51. https://www.wateraid.org/uk/media/teamwater-reaches-40-million
  52. https://www.borgenmagazine.com/mrbeast-and-mark-rober/
  53. https://www.crunchlabs.com/products/build-box-subscription
  54. https://www.crunchlabs.com/pages/videos
  55. https://toybook.com/moose-toys-crunchlabs-licensing-deal/
  56. https://www.crunchlabs.com/pages/camp-challenges-2025
  57. https://getrecharge.com/case-studies/crunchlabs-leverages-turnkey-recharge-products-to-create-a-seamless-experience/
  58. https://www.crunchlabs.com/pages/class-home
  59. https://www.prweb.com/releases/crunchlabsorg-foundation-launches-with-7-2m-grant-to-transform-science-class-through-youtube-style-videos-and-hands-on-discovery-302589852.html
  60. https://www.crunchlabs.com/pages/class-about-us
  61. https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/mark-rober-latest-youtuber-to-head-to-netflix-with-two-shows-coming-in-2025-2026/
  62. https://unicourt.com/case/ca-scl-mark-rober-vs-lisa-rober-1181064
  63. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybPgmjTRvMo
  64. https://x.com/MarkRober/status/1835354770741272855
  65. https://news.mit.edu/2023/mark-rober-commencement-0601
  66. https://www.svvoice.com/sunnyvale-resident-glitter-bombs-package-thieves-gets-discovery-channel-show/
  67. https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-rober/
  68. https://thebridgeforall.org/crunch-club/
  69. https://www.ted.com/talks/mark_rober_the_super_mario_effect_tricking_your_brain_into_learning_more
  70. https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-mark-rober-youtube-autism-1234953387/
  71. https://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/9th-annual-nominees/
  72. https://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/10th-annual-nominees/
  73. https://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/11th-annual-nominees/
  74. https://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/12th-annual-nominees/
  75. https://winners.webbyawards.com/2022/specialachievement/310/mark-rober
  76. https://www.theiet.org/membership/library-and-archives/the-iet-archives/iet-history/celebrate-150/our-major-activities/iet-150-stem-personality-of-the-year
  77. https://www.theiet.org/membership/library-and-archives/the-iet-archives/iet-history/honorary-fellows-list
  78. https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/2024/CMPTX/awards
  79. https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/streamy-awards-nominations-2023-list-1235677786/
  80. https://winners.webbyawards.com/2025/creators/individual-creator/kids-family/332281/mark-rober
  81. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6904995/awards/
  82. https://www.nickalive.net/2025/05/nickelodeon-announces-kids-choice.html
  83. https://time.com/collections/time100-creators-2025/7299150/mark-rober/
  84. https://oge.mit.edu/oge_news/mark-rober-tells-mit-graduates-to-throw-themselves-into-the-unknown/
  85. https://www.nsta.org/national-conference-science-education-denver-2024-mark-rober
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