Biography
See below for version in Spanish
José Francisco Salgado is an Emmy-nominated astronomer (BS in Physics, Univ. of Puerto Rico; PhD in Astronomy, Univ. of Michigan), experimental photographer, visual artist, and public speaker who creates multimedia works that communicate science in engaging ways. As the Executive Director and co-founder 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.
José Francisco Salgado is an Emmy-nominated astronomer (BS in Physics, Univ. of Puerto Rico; PhD in Astronomy, Univ. of Michigan), experimental photographer, visual artist, and public speaker who creates multimedia works that communicate science in engaging ways. As the Executive Director and co-founder 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 260 concerts and 215 lectures reaching a combined audience of more than 480,000 people in 21 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.
From 2006 until 2008 Dr. Salgado hosted "Nuestra Galaxia", a weekly astronomy news segment on Univision Chicago (WGBO) for which he received an Emmy nomination. From 2010 until 2012 Dr. Salgado produced and presented short science films with musician/composer Tom Bailey (formerly of British pop group Thompson Twins) as part of the audiovisual ensemble Bailey-Salgado Project.
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 has also served as 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.
Dr. Salgado’s work with KV 265 has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Four of his Science & Symphony films have been recognized by UNESCO for the their educational value.
Honors and Accomplishments
| 2022 | Recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Art Works grant through his work with KV 265 |
| 2019 | Recipient of a MacArthur Foundation International Connections Fund grant through his work with KV 265 |
| 2018 | Recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Art Works grant through his work with KV 265 |
| 2016 | Commission from Boston Pops for a new film which got presented 33 times in front of almost 75,000 people |
| 2016 | Recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Art Works grant through his work with KV 265 |
| 2015 | U of Michigan Astronomy 2015 Distinguished Alumni Lecture: "Science & Symphony Films" |
| 2014 | "The Legend of the Northern Lights" premiered with Grant Park Orchestra to critical acclaim in front of 32,000 people |
| 2012 | "Gustav Holst's The Planets" selected for Ravinia's One Score One Chicago initiative |
| 2010 | Citibank’s Hispanic Heritage Award |
| 2010 | Teatro de Rojas Best Concert of Season award for "Astronomical Pictures at an Exhibition" |
| 2010 | Named ESO Photo Ambassador by the European Southern Observatory |
| 2009 | Distinguished Alumnus, School of Natural Sciences, U of Puerto Rico |
| 2009 | Lecturer, Distinguished Lecture Series of the School of Art and Design, U of Michigan |
| 2009 | His first two science films named by the Intl. Astron. Union and UNESCO as Special Projects for the International Year of Astronomy |
| 2008 | AstroFilm Festival Piestany, Slovakia, Audience Award for "Gustav Holst’s The Planets" |
| 2007 | Photoshop Guru Award finalist for artwork entitled "Orion Rising" |
| 2006 | Emmy Award nomination for "Nuestra Galaxia" news segment (WGBO) |
| 1999 | Photoshop Guru Award finalist for artwork entitled "Active Galaxy Over the Adler" |
| 1990s | Rackham Dissertation Fellowship, U of Michigan |
| 1992-96 | Puerto Rico Community Foundation Research Grant |
| 1991 | Facundo Bueso [Physics] Medal, U of Puerto Rico |
| 1988-91 | University of Puerto Rico Honors Program |
For a copy of his latest CV please send a message to: admin "at" KV265 "dot" org.
Biografía
El Dr. José Francisco Salgado es un astrónomo nominado al Emmy (BS en Física por la Universidad de Puerto Rico; PhD en Astronomía por la Universidad de Michigan), fotógrafo experimental, artista visual y orador que crea trabajos multimedia que divulgan ciencia de forma atractiva. Como Director Ejecutivo y Co-fundador de KV 265, organización no lucrativa de educación científica y artística, el Dr. Salgado colabora con orquestas, compositores y músicos para presentar películas que provocan curiosidad y un sentido de admiración por la Tierra y el Universo.
Sus "Películas Sinfónicas de Ciencia" han sido presentadas en mas de 254 conciertos y 205 charlas, frente a más de 474,000 personas en salas de concierto, museos y aulas en más de 100 ciudades en 21 países. Algunas de las orquestas que han presentado sus trabajos incluyen a la Sinfónica de Chicago, la Boston Pops, Sinfónica de San Francisco, Orquesta del Teatro Regio de Turín, la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Checa y la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México. Sus filmes fueron nombrados por la Unión Internacional Astronómica y por la UNESCO como Proyectos Especiales para el Año Internacional de la Astronomía (AIA2009). Su colaboración con el compositor Christopher Theofanidis, "La leyenda de las auroras boreales", fue estrenada en Chicago por la Orquesta Grant Park, ante 32,000 personas. En 2016 su filme "Carol of the Lights" fue encargado por Keith Lockhart y la Boston Pops y presentado 33 veces frente a casi 75,000 personas.
El Dr. Salgado fue el presentador de "Nuestra Galaxia", un segmento semanal de noticias de astronomía en Univisión Chicago (WGBO), trabajo por el cual recibió una nominación al Emmy. El Dr. Salgado también produce y presenta cortometrajes con el músico y compositor Tom Bailey (líder del grupo de pop británico Thompson Twins) como parte de su conjunto audiovisual Bailey-Salgado Project, así como con el dúo de arpas Beyond Pluck.
Como fotógrafo experimental, Salgado ha visitado más de 30 centros de investigación científica que incluyen el Polo Sur, el desierto de Atacama, los Pirineos franceses y el Karoo sudafricano. Ha contribuido con visuales en documentales de los canales de televisión History, Discovery, la BBC y el National Geographic. Como orador, ha dictado conferencias sobre ciencia y arte en los siete continentes, incluida una presentación en la estación Amundsen-Scott del Polo Sur.
