Dr. Jose Salgado

Science & Symphony Films

Since 2006 José Francisco Salgado has been collaborating with orchestras, composers, electronic and chamber musicians to present science films that provoke curiosity and a sense of wonder about Earth and the Universe. The success of the first two films led to the formation of KV 265, a non-profit organization whose mission is the communication of science through the arts. To date, these Science & Symphony films have been presented in 230 concerts and 180 lectures reaching a combined audience of more than 460,000 people in 19 countries. In this presentation, Dr. Salgado will talk about the creative process of making these films and how he uses them to communicate science in non-traditional venues such as concert halls.
KV265 with symphony

Biography

Dr. Jose Salgado with camera in snow suit

José Francisco Salgado is an astronomer (BS in Physics, Univ. of Puerto Rico; PhD in Astronomy, Univ. of Michigan), experimental photographer, visual artist, and an Emmy-nominated science communicator. As the Executive Director of KV 265, a non-profit science and arts education organization, Dr. Salgado collaborates with orchestras, composers, and musicians to present films that provoke curiosity and a sense of wonder about the Earth and the Universe. 

His Science & Symphony films have been presented in 230 concerts and 180 lectures reaching a combined audience of more than 460,000 people in 19 countries. Orchestras that have presented these works include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, the San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony, and the Orchestra Teatro Regio Torino. His first two films were named by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO as Special Projects for the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009). In 2012 his film "Gustav Holst's The Planets" was chosen for Ravinia Festival's One Score, One Chicago initiative. In 2014, his collaboration with composer Christopher Theofanidis, "The Legend of the Northern Lights" was premiered with Grant Park Orchestra to critical acclaim in front of 32,000 people. In 2016, his short film "Carol of the Lights" was commissioned by Keith Lockhart and Boston Pops and presented 33 times to almost 75,000 people.

Dr. Salgado also produces and presents short science films with musician/composer Tom Bailey (formerly of British pop group Thompson Twins) as part of the audiovisual ensemble Bailey-Salgado Project. From 2006 until 2008 Salgado hosted "Nuestra Galaxia", a weekly astronomy news segment on Univision Chicago (WGBO) for which he received an Emmy nomination. KV 265 and Dr. Salgado are a two-time recipient of NEA's Art Works grant.

As an experimental photographer, Salgado has visited more than 30 scientific sites in remote places including the Atacama desert, the French Pyrenees, and the South African Karoo, and has contributed visuals to documentaries produced for the History, Discovery, BBC, and National Geographic channels. He is also a contributing writer for Digital Photography Review (DPReview.com). As a public speaker, he has given lectures in all seven continents, including a presentation at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

About KV265

KV 265 is a non-profit organization whose mission is the communication of science through art to communities worldwide. KV 265 seeks to heighten appreciation and understanding of art, music, science, and technology and to inspire further exploration of these disciplines among its audience members through multimedia concerts, lectures, and educational workshops
Dr. Salgado takign picture of aurora australis in Antarctica