Professor Dave
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David James "Dave" Farina, better known as Professor Dave, is an American science communicator, YouTuber, debunker and musician.[1][2][independent source needed][3][non-primary source needed][4] He produces educational videos covering a broad range of academic subjects and videos debunking pseudoscientific beliefs and internet charlatans who spread them.
After receiving his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota in 2005, he moved to California in order to pursue a career in music, becoming a member of the band The Lonely Wild. During that time he gained classroom experience, including teaching at a private school in Hollywood and acting as a university chemistry lecturer.[1][2][independent source needed][3][non-primary source needed][4] Having already attempted completing a master's degree in synthetic organic chemistry in Carleton College, he completely most of the courses for one at California State University, Northridge, but ultimately graduated with a Master's in science education .[5][non-primary source needed]
In January 2015 he started the YouTube channel "Professor Dave Explains", where he began by making educational organic chemistry tutorials and later branched into other subjects with the aim of creating a "database of academic tutorials to help students with a variety of subjects". After producing a video in 2019 debunking modern flat Earth beliefs, Dave Farina began posting several more similar debunking videos, covering further topics such as creationism, astrology, homeopathy, climate change denialism, pseudoarchaeology among others. He has taken part in public and online debates on these issues, most notably with James Tour at Rice University campus in Houston, Texas.
In late 2018 he formed Simulated Sun, an endeavour producing music with synthwave and space rock sounds. In 2019 he released the five-track EP "Ignition".