Distinguished Professor Charles R. Martin is UF Chemistry Department’s renaissance man – both a nanoscience pioneer and an award-winning songwriter who has released seven albums of original rock and Americana music. Martin recently got to combine these passions for science and art in a songwriting gig from the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Martin is a member of a DOE Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC), of which there are 36 nationwide. DOE invited all the EFRCs to contribute to their “Intersection of Sound and Science Podcast, ” where each team gets three minutes to “educate, inspire and entertain” a general audience about their research.
Martin’s EFRC, called Nanostructures for Electrical Energy Storage, called on him to pen and record their entry. Building on the nano theme, he wrote an original rock song called “Big Things Small Packages.” He then recruited a bassist and drummer and made a professional recording in a Gainesville studio. Martin played electric and acoustic guitar and sang all the vocals on the recording.
“It was a thrill to wear my artistic hats (songwriter, recording artist, record producer) in this scientific format. I need more gigs like this,” says Martin. The Podcast is July 28 and is a competition. Wish Chuck luck.