Fiorella Terenzi

Fiorella Terenzi
Born 1961 or 1962 (age 51)
Fiorella Terenzi, Milan, Italy
Residence Los Angeles and Miami, United States
Nationality Italian/American
Alma mater University of Milan, Italy (doctorate/PhD), University of California, San Diego (visiting researcher)
Occupation

Astrophysicist, professor, author, recording artist

Fields: Astronomy, astrophysics, space science, planetary science, education, public outreach, innovations, music
Organization Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
Known for Acoustic astronomy, music from the galaxies, invisible universe, audiofication/sonification of celestial data, Heavenly Knowledge
Website
http://www.fiorella.com
Fiorella Terenzi
Labels Island/PolyGram Records, Mercury records, Giant/Warner Bros. Records

Fiorella Terenzi is an Italian-born astrophysicist, author and recording artist who is best known for taking recordings of radio waves from far-away galaxies and turning them into music. She received her doctorate from the University of Milan but is currently based in the United States.

Described by Time magazine as "a cross between Carl Sagan and Madonna",[1] Dr. Terenzi has studied opera and composition at Conservatory G. Verdi, Corsi Popolari Serali and taught physics and astronomy at various U.S. colleges and universities; she is currently on the full-time faculty at Florida International University in Miami.[2][3][4] In research at the Computer Audio Research Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, she pioneered techniques to convert radio waves emanating from distant galaxies into sound,[5][6] with some of the results released by Island Records on her acclaimed CD Music from the Galaxies.[7][8][9][10] The goal of her audiofication/sonification of celestial data is to investigate how sound could reflect chemical, dynamical and physical properties of celestial objects, what she calls "Acoustic Astronomy".[11]

Media Appearances

Terenzi's global media appearances include television and radio features on CNN's "Future Watch",[12] The Dennis Miller Show,[13] Sci Fi Channel, NPR Talk of the Nation,[14] Weekend Edition and Science Friday, Newsweek on Air, Strange universe,[15] History Channel's “The Universe” and “Ancient Aliens”,[16] and others. She has appeared and/or is referenced in numerous print media including The Wall Street Journal,[17] People,[18] Time,[1] The Quest magazine,[19] Electronic Musician magazine,[20] Glamour magazine, Details magazine, Los Angeles Reader,[21] and Los Angeles Daily News,[22] as well as appearing internationally on the covers of Mondo 2000 magazine,[23] New Frontier magazine, Atari Explorer magazine, Extropy magazine, Composer USA magazine, CD-ROM Today magazine and Eye Weekly (Toronto, Canada).[24]

Public Speaking / Lectures

In lectures at University of California - San Diego, Stanford, MIT, the Smithsonian Institution, the American Museum of Natural History (NY), and in performances, live and on TV, in the US, Europe, and Japan, Terenzi has combined science and art to awaken people to the wonders of the universe.[25] She has moderated hundreds of panels on science, technology, education and public outreach from Digital Hollywood to MacWorld and chaired the "Techno 2000" symposium at Pepperdine University. Terenzi's speaking engagements embrace such topics as "Globalization of Education", "Women in Space", "The Business of Space",[26] "Values for a New Civilization", "Art, Intelligence & Artificial Intelligence" and the most popular "Heavenly Knowledge"[27] and "Invisible Universe".[28][29][30][31]

Dr. Terenzi addressed The New York Times International Luxury Conference, a two-day event bringing together over 500 business and creative leaders in Miami on December 2–3, 2014, in a talk entitled “The Collaborative Mind: Bridging Astrophysics and Aesthetics”, and was interviewed on AriseTV's Arise Xchange news program in connection with her talk.[32][33][34][35][36][37]

Career

During her term as Director of New Media at the Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium, Terenzi arranged and hosted events including "National Astronomy Day", produced Planetarium Shows including "Stars of the Seasons / Stars of the Sea", developed content for grants including a NASA grant to deliver earth/space science on-line for high schools, and spoke at events from the NSF funded "Girls in Science" program, to the Florida Planetarium Directors Association, to the international State of the World Forum in New York.

Terenzi has taught astronomy and physics at Pace University (New York), City University of New York (Borough of Manhattan and Bronx Community College), Brevard Community College, Pierce and Glendale College (Los Angeles). Currently, she is a full-time Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Florida International University (FIU), Miami.[38]

FIU's new Stocker AstroScience Center, opened in November, 2013,[39] includes an interactive exhibit highlighting Dr. Terenzi's research on the audiofication/sonification of celestial data entitled "Acoustic Astronomy: The Sounds of the Universe".[40]

Discography

She has collaborated with the likes of Thomas Dolby,[42][43] Timothy Leary,[44] Herbie Hancock, and Ornette Coleman.

Books and Publications

Formerly represented by talent/literary agents The William Morris Agency, Terenzi is best known for her CD-ROM Invisible Universe (Voyager Company),[46][47][48] which blends astronomy and music into an entertaining and enlightening voyage through the stars, and won the SIGCAT (Special Interest Group on CD Applications and Technology) award for "Most Creative Application of Multimedia in Higher and Adult Education".

She is also known for a sexually charged book about science entitled Heavenly Knowledge, that explores astronomy as a metaphor for human relationships and humanity's place in the Universe.[27] The book, covered on ABC Radio, NPR Talk of The Nation, BBC Radio, and The Sci-Fi Channel, has been translated into Italian ("Musica Dalle Stelle")[49] bundled with her music CD Galactically Yours, German ("Der Kosmos ist weiblich"),[50] Latvian and other languages.

Terenzi wrote the foreword for Paula Berinstein's book Making Space Happen: Private Space Efforts and the People Behind Them[26] and has been featured in full chapter in Laura Woodmansee's Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier[51] and in the music and technology book The Art of Digital Music by Kelli Richards and David Battino.[52] She also provided a technical review of the educational text book The Physics of Everyday Phenomena by Thomas Griffith,[53] and University Physics for the Physical and Life Sciences by Philip Kesten and David Tauk.[54]

Outreach and Innovations

"The jewelry you hold is timeless and eternal.
The beauty of our cosmos is held within each piece.
May the brilliance and radiance of the stars be with you, and may you
always be reminded of your own star-light."
– Dr. Fiorella Terenzi

Among her outreach projects, Terenzi created the acclaimed, grant-winning "BCC Space&Astronomy Lecture Series” in an effort to inspire and educate the public, including current and potential future students, about the beauty and magnificence of the universe.[55] Each month hundreds attend this lecture series.

She has a strong interest in innovative teaching techniques. In technology-mediated instruction she developed learning modules such as: "The Business of Space" to promote cultural diversity and global awareness about space and astronomy; "Astronomy in Paintings, Frescos, and Engravings" on how art has been used to explain the Universe from stars to galaxies; "Sounds of the Universe: Acoustic Astronomy" to stimulate intellectual curiosity and individual thinking; and an "Invisible Universe" learning module to explore celestial objects in multi-wavelengths.

Dr. Terenzi’s lectures are based on a unique blend of science and art, knowledge and emotion—a concept she calls "Emotional Learning," since it is based on the 4 "E"s: Entertain, Educate, Enlighten, and Enthrall. “When you are engaged on these multiple levels, learning finds an emotional home, and it is remembered forever.”[2]

Her creative and artistic bent also led her to create original collections of stellar-themed jewelry designs based on the color and symmetry of stars and galaxies, premiered for "ShopNBC" as "GemAllure" in white gold, diamonds and blue sapphires and for "QVC Japan" as "Stellare" in silver and cubic zirconia.[56]

Dr. Terenzi premiered her unique new “Let’s Get Astrophysical” multi-media show for the Miami Beach Centennial Celebration on March 23, 2015 on the oceanfront Hard Rock Rising stage in South Beach. The show featured the first and only Top-15 Stellar-Themed Pop Song Countdown, including songs from Muse, One Republic, Oasis, Incubus, Fallout Boys, Katy Perry, Hardwell and Daft Punk, combined with live DJs, musicians, dancers, and acrobats, plus a laser light show.[57][58][59]

Scientific Advisory

Dr. Terenzi is the first person to be a member of both the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (Grammy Awards) and the American Astronomical Society. She has been an Apple Computer AppleMaster since 1994, and she is Vice-President and Miami-Dade Social Chair of the Ferrari Club of America – Florida Region.

She is an "Adviser and Scientific Consultant" to the Italian Academy of food for the "Italian Food in Space” effort, enabling NASA Space Shuttle mission STS-120 (Oct. 23, 2007) to include a unique Italian menu consumed and shared among the astronauts in the International Space Station on the 5th day of its mission. She worked with the ASI/ESA astronaut, Paolo Nespoli, who was a crew member on the Shuttle and the International Space Station.

Dr. Terenzi served on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Lifeboat Foundation and on the Foundation's Asteroid/Comet Impacts Board.[60]

Ermenegildo Zegna's renowned fashion designer Stefano Pilati commissioned Dr. Terenzi to create a journey into space, using real images and her acoustic astronomy sounds in a ground-breaking video for Zegna's Fall-Winter 2014 Men's Collection.[61] This new union of fashion and astrophysics was described by the New York Times as "Zegna's Very Big Bang",[62] and generated extensive worldwide publicity.[63][64][65][66][67] "No one has ever done anything like this before", said Gildo Zegna.[62]

A new version of this video, which represents a collaboration between Terenzi, fellow astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Pilati, is entitled “City and Nature- Scientist Cut”. It forms the framework of an innovative new 23-window display at Harrods, the luxury London department store. From October 2-19, 2014, new “Whispering Window” technology will allow Dr. Terenzi’s space sounds, accompanied by Tchaikovsky, to be shared with passing pedestrians as they enjoy seeing for themselves how the seemingly disparate worlds of science and fashion complement one another.[68]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Strange Sights and Sounds", Ginia Bellafante, Time magazine, March 1, 1995
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Fiorella Terenzi". .fiu.edu. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  3. ↑ "Honors Press Release: Honors College Lecture to Feature Sounds of the Universe". Honors.fiu.edu. 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  4. ↑ "Fiorella Terenzi at Florida International University". RateMyProfessors.com. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  5. ↑ Adam Burgasser, Ph.D., "Astronomical Synesthesia", Project Planetaria, University of California, San Diego, April 13, 2012
  6. ↑ "CME Gang". Willshare.com. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  7. ↑ "Composer/Performer- Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, Music from the Galaxies, Island/Polygram Records, 1991, audio CD."
  8. ↑ "MUTANT SOUNDS: Dr. Fiorella Terenzi- Music From the Galaxies,CD,1991.Italy". Mutant-sounds.blogspot.com. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  9. ↑ "Portico". Scitation.aip.org. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  10. ↑ "Fiorella Terenzi - Astro-Artist of the Month - January 2013". Astronomerswithoutborders.org. 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  11. ↑ James R. Webb, Ph.D., "Data's sound debut", Physics Today, February, 2013, page 9
  12. ↑ "Galaxy Music" - Dr. Fiorella Terenzi's Acoustic Astronomy, Future Watch, CNN, TV news program
  13. ↑ 'Dennis Miller Show', Episode No. 22, Tribune Entertainment, February 18, 1992.
  14. ↑ "Listening to the Galaxies", Talk of the Nation, NPR, February 27, 1998.
  15. ↑ Dr. Fiorella Terenzi – Strange Universe, Feb 19, 2007
  16. ↑ “Aliens and the Creation of Man”, Ancient Aliens, Season 3, Episode 16, History Channel, Initial Broadcast: November 23, 2011.
  17. ↑ Gregory N. Racz, “Some May Say Folks Have Touted Music of the Spheres for Centuries”, The Wall Street Journal, (New York), May 28, 1993.
  18. ↑ “From the Vastness of Space, a Little Traveling Music”, People magazine, September 30, 1996, page 98.
  19. ↑ Don G. Campbell, “The Dissonance of Today is the Consonance of Tomorrow; Music of the Spheres”, The Quest, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter, 1995, page 85.
  20. ↑ “New Sources, New Music”, Electronic Musician, January, 1990, page 55.
  21. ↑ “Esoterica”, Los Angeles Reader, September 6, 1991.
  22. ↑ Suzan Bibisi, ” Sky's the limit for astrophysicist's heavenly music”, Los Angeles Daily News, November 29, 1991,page 47.
  23. ↑ “Let’s Get Astrophysical with Dr. Fiorella Terenzi”, Mondo 2000 Magazine, Issue No. 5, 1992, pages 96-100.
  24. ↑ Dr. Fiorella Terenzi's Worldwide Press/Media Appearances.
  25. ↑ Community Colleges for International Development, Inc.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Paula Berinstein (Author) and Dr. Fiorella Terenzi (Foreword), Making Space Happen: Private Space Ventures and the Visionaries Behind Them, Plexus Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-9666748-3-9.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, Heavenly Knowledge, Harper-Collins/Avon Books,1998, ISBN 0380974126, ISBN 978- 0380974122.
  28. ↑ Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, Invisible Universe, Voyager CityRom, 1994, ASIN: B000KVSM0O, CD-Rom.
  29. ↑ "Star-trek Guide With Sex Appeal - Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. 1996-07-21. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  30. ↑ "Dr. Fiorella Terenzi - Andromeda "Invisible Universe" CDROM". YouTube. 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  31. ↑ "Solar System tour by Dr. Fiorella Terenzi". YouTube. 2009-09-21. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  32. ↑ NY Times International Luxury Conference- Agenda
  33. ↑ Wall Street Journal story on NY Times International Luxury Conference
  34. ↑ FIU Press release on Dr. Terenzi's Speech at NY Times International Luxury Conference
  35. ↑ Physicist Ignites Big Bang in Fashion Industry
  36. ↑ Collaborative Mind Panel Discussion
  37. ↑ Arise Xchange Interview
  38. ↑ Dr. Fiorella Terenzi Joins FIU Physics – The Stocker AstroScience Center
  39. ↑ "Welcome | The Stocker AstroScience Center". Astroscience.fiu.edu. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  40. ↑ Dr. Fiorella Terenzi. "Acoustic Astronomy: The Sounds of the Universe : Audiofication/Sonification of Celestial Data". Florida International University, Miami: 2.fiu.edu. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  41. ↑ Music From the Galaxies
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Thomas Dolby and Dr Fiorella Terenzi Quantum Mechanic xvid.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 N.E.O. Near Earth Objects by Dr. Fiorella Terenzi and Thomas Dolby
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Star Light - Timothy Leary
  45. ↑ Massive Attack - Karmacoma.
  46. ↑ Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, Invisible Universe, Voyager CityRom, 1994, ASIN: B000KVSM0O, CD-ROM.
  47. ↑ Dr. Fiorella Terenzi - Andromeda "Invisible Universe" CDROM.
  48. ↑ Invisible Universe, Solar System tour by Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, Sep 21, 2009
  49. ↑ Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, La Musica Delle Stelle, Sterling-Kupfer, 1998, book with audio CD.
  50. ↑ Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, Der Kosmos ist weiblich, Bertelsmann/Goldmann, 1998, ISBN 3442307899, ISBN 978-3442307890.
  51. ↑ Laura S. Woodmansee, Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier, Collector’s Guide Publishing, 2003, ISBN 1894959035, ISBN 978-1894959032.
  52. ↑ David Battino and Kelli Richards, The Art of Digital Music, Backbeat Books, 2004, ISBN 0879308303, ISBN 978-0879308308.
  53. ↑ Dr. W. Thomas Griffith, The Physics of Everyday Phenomena, McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math.
  54. ↑ Drs. Philip R. Kesten and David L. Tauck, University Physics for the Physical and Life Sciences, W. H. Freeman, 2012.
  55. ↑ Mar. 11, 2011 "President John F. Kennedy and the race to the Moon", Dr. John M. Logsdon, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and International Affairs, The George Washington University, WDC
  56. ↑ Cosmic Inspired Jewellery Designs
  57. ↑ FIU Let's Get Astrophysical Promo Video
  58. ↑ Let's Get Astrophysical Recap Video
  59. ↑ Let's Get Astrophysical Full Video
  60. ↑ Lifeboat Foundation Bios: Professor Fiorella Terenzi
  61. ↑ "Ermenegildo Zegna Fashion Show FW 2014: Full Video". YouTube. 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 "Zegna’s Very Big Bang". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  63. ↑ Barry, Colleen (2014-01-11). "Milan Fashion Week seeks renewal". Bigstory.ap.org. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  64. ↑ "Ermenegildo Zegna Men's RTW Fall 2014 - Runway, Fashion Week, Fashion Shows, Reviews and Fashion Images". WWD.com. 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  65. ↑ "Ermenegildo Zegna, la relatività dell'universo maschile - Sfilate - Moda - Lifestyle". Ansa.it. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  66. ↑ "Stellare Zegna, natura e tecnologia per un nuovo stile" (in Italian). IlGiornale.it. 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  67. ↑ "L'eleganza siderale di Zegna, il Medioevo di Dolce&Gabbana, la ribellione di Versace - Moda 24". Moda24.ilsole24ore.com. 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  68. ↑ http://www.harrods.com/style-insider/news/aw14/ermenegildo-zegna-city-and-nature

External links