Career
He studies rare earth metals and collaborates with several research groups on hydrogen storage, carbonitrides, and nanotube insertion chemistry. He has been involved in numerous television documentaries, including the 2010 British Broadcasting Corporation documentary Chemistry: A Volatile History which was nominated for the 2010 British Academy Television Awards in the category Specialist Factual. In 2014 he presented "My Family and other Ibex" and "Urine Trouble: What"s in our Water" on British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4.
He has been a guest on Melvyn Bragg"s In Our Time and appeared regularly on radio programmes like Start The Week, Weekend, Newshour, and the Today Programme.
He has been consultant and contributor for the British Broadcasting Corporation World Service"s series "Elemental Economics" presented by Justin Rowlatt. He was born in Italy, but grew up in the United States of America and East Africa.
He completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from 1986-1990 at Balliol College, Oxford. His monthly column in the Royal Society of Chemistry"s Chemistry World, "Classic Kit", explores the history of chemistry through the lens of scientific apparatus.
He is also well known for science demonstrations for both schoolchildren and adults.
He sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Cheltenham Science Festival and on the Education Committee of the Royal Institution. He was awarded the 2014 from The Royal Society for "his excellent work in science communication". He tweets under the name SellaTheChemist.
