Philip J. Sakimoto

Professional Specialist
Outreach and Diversity

Research Interests

The universe is a fascinating place. Throughout history, it has been the ultimate laboratory, teaching scientists from Galileo to Einstein and beyond the most fundamental principles of physics. In turn, that understanding has allowed us to probe the unfolding of creation itself. We observe the origin of the universe in the big bang. We see stars forming and dying. We search for planets and signs of life in other solar systems. As creatures of this one small planet, it is astonishing that we could learn and do so much.

I have come to Notre Dame after 14 years with NASA’s education and minority access programs, most recently serving as Acting Director of NASA’s Space Science Education and Public Outreach Program. At Notre Dame, my role is to invite all who might be interested to join us in exploring the world of physics and the universe in which we live. Science can no longer be the purview of a few privileged practitioners; we must make it accessible to the broadest possible audience. We therefore seek to provide research and educational opportunities for university faculty, pre-college teachers, students at all levels, and learners of all ages. With an eye towards the future, we place a special emphasis on substantially broadening the participation of people from minority groups and other communities that are underserved and underutilized in the sciences. I am also interested in exploring the science of diverse cultures and the interplay of science with philosophy, religion, and other fields of human inquiry in order to gain a more complete picture of our selves and our place in the universe.

Selected Publications:

“Obliterating Myths About Minority Institutions," P. Sakimoto and J. Rosendhal, Physics Today 98, 9, 49-53 (September 2005). For the complete article.

“The NASA Office of Space Science Education and Public Outreach Program,” J. Rosendhal, P. Sakimoto, R. Pertzborn, L. Cooper, Advances in Space Research 34, 2127-2135 (2004).

NASA University Research Centers Technical Advances in Aeronautics, Space Sciences and Technology, Earth Systems Sciences, Global Hydrology, and Education, T.L. Coleman, B. White, S. Goodman, P. Sakimoto, L. Randolph, and D. Rickman, eds., (Albuquerque: TSI Press, 1998).

"On Creationism in the Astronomy Classroom," P.J. Sakimoto, in I.A.U. Colloquium #105: The Teaching of Astronomy, J.M. Pasachoff and J.R. Percy, eds., (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1990).

• Full curriculum vitae (pdf)
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