Philip, better known as Pib, has been fascinated by all things astronomical since an early age. He received his first meteorite specimen in the late 1950s. He has collected meteorites and impactites on and off since 1970.  He also collects meteorite-related stamps and coins.

Philip's academic background is in mathematics and computer science. In 2020 he retired after 46 years at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (USA).