CERN Alumni Awardees 2021 - Octavio Domínguez

1)      What does winning the CERN Alumni directorate award mean to you?

"It actually means a lot to me. To be honest, it came as a total surprise. Firstly, I wasn’t aware of such awards. And when I heard of it, I never thought that such an honour would be awarded to a secondary school teacher. But it is truly humbling and touching that after nearly 8 years since I left CERN, people there keep remembering my work and appreciating the contributions I made during my time at CERN as well as all the work I have done afterwards, sharing my passion for science and CERN in my role as a teacher. I am very happy and proud that the CERN directorate recognised education within the realm of essential contributions to society for their alumni. I always wore my time at CERN as a batch of honour, and this prize definitely adds a new layer to it. "

2)      How did your CERN experience contribute to your subsequent career, if at all?

"Becoming a teacher was always within my dream jobs. However, when I got the opportunity to do a PhD at CERN, I thought to give research another go (after a few jobs in other research centres), and also I thought that even if in the end I decided not to become a researcher, my experience would enrich me and my future students. And it turns out I was totally right! On the one hand, there are so many skills one acquires working at CERN that are absolutely essential for my profession, assisting hugely in my becoming a better teacher. On the other, my students find it fascinating and it helps them become more interested in the subject and kindles their curiosity in such beautiful ways."

3)      Where do you see the value in being an active member of the CERN Alumni Network?

"The CERN Alumni Network started several years after I left CERN. Therefore, I was not really aware of it until recently. Therefore, I haven’t had the opportunity to contribute to it much so far. However, after the Second Collisions event, I am very keen to take part. It is always nice that feeling of belonging. Sharing similar experiences bring people together to make greater things. I think it has a lot of potential to help and enrich each other. I am eager to get in touch with other Alumni that have followed similar paths to mine in order to share knowledge. "

"I also think that outreach is essential for science. I am always delighted to give lectures about CERN and contribute to expanding people’s knowledge about CERN and the physics being carried out there. I believe that local groups of the CERN Alumni Network almost have a duty in that regard, and could, for example, made themselves as a group available to different institutions (schools, universities, cultural associations, science clubs… you name it!) to go and share our experiences with them."

4)      Is there anything else you’d like to add?

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank again the CERN directorate and all people involved in the CERN Alumni Network for this award and also for all the work they do to extend and support the network. This helps all people involved to drive the positive change needed in our society."