Arturo Dominguez, a plasma physicist and innovative science education leader with nearly 10 years at PPPL, has been appointed head of PPPL’s Science Education Office. He has long been known for his enthusiasm and passion for teaching students and the public about plasma science and fusion energy.

Dominguez succeeds Andrew Zwicker, who headed the office for 18 years. “I could not be more delighted to have Arturo lead our Science Education programs,” Zwicker said. “He is an outstanding physicist and science educator whose efforts to educate the public and future scientists about plasma and fusion, and whose work in equity, diversity and inclusion has had an impact on our program and nationwide.”

Dominguez credits Zwicker with establishing a strong science education program. “Andrew has built a program that has been at the forefront of outreach and workforce development, and always with a sense of diversity, equity and inclusion,” Dominguez said. “What I’ve really focused on over the last few years is developing really strong ties with the rest of the U.S. plasma and fusion community.”

Dominguez joined PPPL in 2012 after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in experimental plasma physics. He was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and began his college education at the National University of Colombia before attending the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a bachelor’s degree in physics with honors.

He now works closely with colleagues Deedee Ortiz, Science Education program manager; Shannon Swilley Greco, senior program leader; and Britt Albucker, science education administrative assistant. “I am humbled,” he said. “I am very excited about continuing the work that this team has engaged in for years.”