Dominican Republic establishes National Physicist Day to promote science

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Academy of Sciences (ACRD) has formally launched a new annual national observance, National Physicist Day, which will be celebrated every June 3 starting under the authority of Presidential Decree No. 454-26, officially issued on July 6, 2026. The launch ceremony took place at the ACRD’s central headquarters, drawing a diverse cross-section of attendees including leading academics, veteran researchers, physics educators, university students, and practicing physics professionals from across the country. Throughout the event, participants emphasized the irreplaceable role that the field of physics plays in driving the Dominican Republic’s scientific advancement, technological innovation, and long-term social progress. Melvin Arias, who coordinates the ACRD’s Commission of Basic Sciences and Technology, outlined the core goals behind the new annual celebration. Arias explained that the recurring observance will serve as a key platform to expand public science engagement, reinforce the quality of physics instruction across secondary and post-secondary institutions, and motivate young Dominican students to pursue careers in scientific research and applied physics. A central formal element of the ceremony featured the official reading of the presidential decree by Editrudis Beltrán Crisóstomo, a longtime professor at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) School of Physics and a former university rector. Following the reading, attendees held a moment of quiet respect, observing a minute of silence to honor the legacy of Dominican physicists who have passed away. Closing out the formal proceedings, the Dominican Society of Physics (SoDoFi) presented special recognitions to both Beltrán Crisóstomo and Emma Encarnación, honoring their decades of impactful contributions to the growth and development of the physics discipline across the Dominican Republic. The push to establish National Physicist Day received formal institutional support from multiple key national stakeholders, including SoDoFi, the Dominican Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Mescyt), the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, and the Academy of Sciences itself. Event organizers emphasized in closing statements that the creation of this dedicated national day reinforces the Dominican Republic’s ongoing commitment to expanding scientific research, investing in academic advancement, and building a skilled pipeline of STEM professionals for the nation’s future.