Philip Ball – Science Writer
Philip Ball is a freelance science writer.
He worked previously at Nature for over 20 years, first as an editor for physical sciences (for which his brief extended from biochemistry to quantum physics and materials science) and then as a Consultant Editor.
His writings on science for the popular press have covered topical issues ranging from cosmology to the future of molecular biology.
Philip is the author of many popular books on science, including works on the nature of water, pattern formation in the natural world, colour in art, the science of social and political philosophy, the cognition of music, and physics in Nazi Germany. He has written widely on the interactions between art and science, and has delivered lectures to scientific and general audiences at venues ranging from the Victoria and Albert Museum (London) to the NASA Ames Research Center, London’s National Theatre and the London School of Economics.
He contributes to publications ranging from New Scientist to the New York Times, the Guardian, the Financial Times and New Statesman. He is a columnist for Chemistry World and The New World [https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/contributor/philip-ball/]. Philip has broadcast on many occasions on radio and TV, and was a presenter of the history of science series “Science Stories” on BBC Radio 4. He is Research Director of The Meanings of Life Project: The New Biology for the Marginalia Review of Books.
Philip has a BA in Chemistry from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Physics from the University of Bristol.