Science, Music, and Society Podcast
Science, Music, and Society Podcast
TRAILER (Episode 1. The Physicist Who Sings)
From an aspiring poet to an established physicist who advised the President on science policies, to an award winning opera singer, Philip Phillips embodies how true success incorporates passion. You can watch the entire video podcast on YouTube at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc83Bpg8hEEHuEXWk7qIJm2SbUMbww74j
ABOUT SCIENCE, MUSIC, AND SOCIETY PODCAST
A show that explores the intersection of science and music and their benefits to society through personal stories of scientists and musicians.
ABOUT SOPHIA SI
A rising high school senior in Houston, TX, who grew up playing the piano and loving science.
ABOUT PHILIP PHILLIPS
An established professor in the Department of Physics at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (https://physics.illinois.edu/people/directory/profile/dimer and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Phillips_(physicist)) and opera singer who garnered top prizes (1st Place, 2020 National Association Teachers of Singing (NATS), 2nd Place, 2022 American Prize in Vocal Performance http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2022/05/national-winners-men-in-opera-and-art.html). His performances can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDZpnXiuFA0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSN05n8j09E.
FOLLOW OR SUBSCRIBE TO SCIENCE, MUSIC, AND SOCIETY PODCAST
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc83Bpg8hEEHuEXWk7qIJm2SbUMbww74j
Growing up, we learn to pursue what we are passionate about. Finding what interests us may take time, sometimes requiring us to relinquish it only to come back to it later. However, our true passions have a way of never leaving us alone. As is shown in the example of our guest, no experience is wasted and we don’t lose what we love.
(clip of Philip Phillips singing opera) This is Philip Phillips, an award-winning opera singer. What’s unusual about this story is how he arrived at where he is. You see, Philip Philips is an accomplished physicsist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who advised the Clinton White House on science policies. He had no singing experience until only 7 years ago. I spoke with him about how he became interested in science and opera in this two-part episode.
In Part 1 of the interview, Professor Phillips talks about his initial love for poetry and how an aversion for science classes in high school finally transformed into a passion for physics in college.
In Part 2 of the interview, he discussed his West Indies upbringing and his unlikely path to opera.
