Five minutes with Professor Fabien Postel-Vinay

Professor Fabien Postel-Vinay

Who or what inspires you?

Rigour and honesty inspire me. I admire individuals who consistently exhibit intellectual honesty and rigour in their thinking, and a balance of candour and thoughtfulness in the way they interact with others. The value of good citizenship resonates with me on a fundamental level. Observing people who uphold these principles in their daily lives encourages me to do the same.

Most read book on your shelf

Well, I could come up with a long list of very serious, very important, very thick books, here. But really, anything Tintin holds a special place in my heart. The adventures of Tintin are not just stories; they are an exemplar of a form of art that captivates and entertains while conveying serious, important messages and life lessons. I would highly recommend regular visits to the world of Tintin.

Which three films could you watch over and over again?

There are three films that I find myself drawn to time and time again: ‘Star Wars’, probably because the first Star Wars movie came out when I was six years old, so I grew up with it, ‘Casablanca’ for its mesmerising atmosphere, its unforgettable quotes and, of course, for Sam’s piano playing, and ‘Das Boot’, a gripping portrayal of life on a World War II German submarine.

The soundtrack to your life is…?

Being a closeted musician myself, choosing a single soundtrack for my life is a challenge, but I guess I am a blues guy at heart; so if I had to choose, I would go for BB King’s ‘Live at the Regal’  or for Stevie Ray Vaughn’s ‘Texas Flood’. However, my musical tastes are quite diverse, ranging from contemporary blues rock artists like Gary Clark Jr. all the way back to classical piano compositions like Chopin’s etudes and Schumann’s concertos.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

An anecdote that sometimes surprises people is that I served in the French navy as a midshipman for a year, as part of my undergraduate degree in a school run by the French military. As such, I did watch on a patrol boat in the Channel and the North Sea. It was a rather life-changing experience, especially because I got to meet and interact with people whose backgrounds differed radically from my own (France still had conscription at the time), whom I would otherwise never have met.  This chapter of my life often surprises people who might not have guessed my connection to the navy.

I’m also a keen boatsman. I did some competitive sailing back in the days, on all kinds of boats, from dinghies to pocket maxis. One of my claims to fame in that department is that I participated in the 1993 edition of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.

Finally, I have two wonderful daughters, a lovely and incredibly kind Spanish wife and a dog named Chewbacca (a.k.a. Chewie).

What should people get in contact with you for and how can they do this?

My door is (figuratively) always open so feel free to reach out to me via email at f.postel-vinay@ucl.ac.uk.

Image credits: Fabien Postel-Vinay