Rhys Phillips is a research engineer at Airbus where he works in a team developing new methods of lightning strike protection for carbon-fibre aircraft. He is a passionate advocate for science engagement, spending much time presenting talks, workshops and stage shows to schools and families around the world to get them interested in science and engineering. Rhys is an active volunteer for the Institution of Engineering & Technology, an honorary lecturer at the School of Physics & Astronomy at Cardiff University and sits on the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Young Search Group and the Welsh Government Cross Party Group for Science & Technology. He is a local musician playing trumpet in a number of local bands and orchestras.
He also calls ceilidhs and is co-founder of both Cardiff Science Festival and Cardiff Jazz Festival. At Radio Cardiff, he presents weekly science and jazz shows, maintains the station schedule, heads up the news team and acts as the first point of contact for all volunteers. He also produced the station’s community soap opera, Sophia Square. He has won and been nominated for numerous awards for his science presenting skills and radio shows.