Don Balanzat
I currently use my expertise of education/training, physical science, engineering, and extended reality (XR) technology stacks for the future of spacecraft and human spaceflight at Blue Origin! In my spare time, I try my best to use what I know of STEM to inspire the youth in my community.
Education:
B.S. in Professional Physics
Rutgers University 2012 - 2016
MNS in Geological Science
Arizona State University 2020 - 2022, GPA: 4.0
MS in Human Factors
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 2023-2025 (expected)
Professional Experience:
XR Software Tools Engineer
Blue Origin, Systems Engineering March 2022 - Present
Virtual Reality Developer (Internship)
NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center June 2021 - August 2021
Laboratory Coordinator, Sr.
Arizona State University Physics Department July 2016 - March 2022
Student Demonstration Specialist
Rutgers University Physics Department April 2012 - June 2016
Math and Science Learning Center Tour Guide
Rutgers University Math and Science Learning Center January 2014 - May 2015
Academic Affiliations and Experience:
Center for Education Through eXploration (ETX)
Virtual Field Trip Content Creator 2019 - 2022
Embodied Games Lab (EGL)
Game/VR Researcher & Developer 2019 - Present
METEOR Studio
VR Developer 2020 - 2022
Professional Affiliations:
Future of Education for Virtual and Augmented Reality (FEVAR) 2019 - Present
American Psychological Association (APA) 2021 - Present
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Association (VRARA) 2022 - Present
American Association Physics Teachers (AAPT) 2016 - 2022
American Physical Society (APS) 2016 - 2022
Physics Instructional Resource Association (PIRA) 2016 - 2022
Teaching/Training Experience:
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Taught online physics labs (PHY122/132) at Arizona State University
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Performed dozens of informal science shows and guided lab activities for K-12, junior college students, university students, and various professional institutions in the Phoenix metro area. The following is a list of institutions reached:
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Phoenix College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Ward Traditional Academy, Rhode’s Junior High School, American Leadership Academy - Gilbert, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Metropolitan Arts Institute, Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies, Desert Edge High School, Estrella Mountain Community College
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Individual tutoring for high school and introductory college physics
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Physics laboratory manual and apparatus development
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Trained physics department teaching assistants and student workers on the operation and theory of lab apparatus
Public/Volunteer Work and Extracurricular Activities:
APS-IDEA
May 2020 - Present
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Departmental Action Team (DAT) that executes initiatives designed to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion in ASU Physics.
Education Through eXploration Center
August 2019 - 2022
Solar Immersive Virtual Field Trip (iVFT) Volunteer Physics Consultant
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Shot 360° video with Dr. Sian Proctor in the Physics Demonstration Lab, providing 22 minutes of video that is being used in the iVFT.
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Advised on implementation of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) alignment with VFT design.
Science on Main
Physicist
June 2018 - 2021
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Provide a physicists’ perspective as part of an interdisciplinary group of scientists that get together for 2nd Fridays in Mesa, AZ to answer questions and have conversations about scientific topics with the general public.
Phoenix Fan Fusion Panelist
In the Front Lines: How to be Constructively Pro-Science
May 2019
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Participated in a panel discussion about how to engage constructive conversations both online and offline to lead non-scientists back into science.
It CAN Get Weirder: The Science of Into the Spider-Verse
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Participated in a panel discussion on the “science in the science fiction” of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Emphasized using scientific facts to weave stories.
March for Science
Lead Organizer and Director of Communications
April 2017 - 2018
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Organized, emceed, and led a rally and peaceful march with over 14,000 attendees to promote and defend the role of science in government.
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Appeared on NPR, Good Morning Arizona, as well as the AZ Central and State Press websites to discuss the March for Science movement.
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Media Appearances
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National Public Radio: https://kjzz.org/content/463981/march-science-phoenix-park-saturday
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State Press: https://www.statepress.com/article/2017/04/spscience-march-for-science
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Presentations:
American Association of Physics Teachers - Arizona Chapter
Physics Instructional Resource Team Outreach
Fall 2019
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A 45 minute talk about networking to maximize the scope and impact of using physics demonstrations in public outreach.
American Association of Physics Teachers - National
Breaking Glass with Sound Waves (Make & Take)
Summer 2019
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A 4-hour workshop in which attendees built an acoustic glass-breaking device from a set of parts.
Connecting Demonstration Apparatus to the Real World
Summer 2018
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A 15 minute presentation and Q&A about examples of real world devices that can help to bridge the gap of abstraction in physics concepts.
Future of Education for Virtual and Augmented Reality (FEVAR)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQeHTfy6480&t=0s
AR in Physics Education
February 2020
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Outline and showcase current applications of mobile device AR as they pertain to physics education. Includes a guided tutorial of an AR app “Physics Toolbox AR” that was co-designed at ASU to facilitate spatialized learning about magnetic fields in 3 dimensions.
Education Through eXploration (ETX)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B0gpiF9UU0
Creating Place-Based, Active Learning, Virtual Field Trips: What Makes a Good Virtual Field Trip?
July 2020
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Professional development for teachers where I talk about location and topic driven narratives in various virtual field trips that I helped create to use for teaching science alongside Dr. Sian Proctor.
Papers, Articles, and Publications:
Green Conference: Reducing Carbon Emissions with a Virtual Conference
Interactive CovidCampus Simulation Game: Genesis, Design, and Outcomes
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.657756/full
Technical Competencies:
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Experience with using and troubleshooting physics laboratory equipment: oscilloscopes, thermal probes, sensors, etc. with associated software.
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Tier 2 technical support - including BSoD troubleshooting, hardware installation, virtualization, etc.
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Machining - lathes, mills, tap and die, power tools
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3D Modeling experience in Blender
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Game/Simulation experience in Unity (C#, input systems, shaders, various popular packages)
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Proficient with the Ableton Live Digital Audio Workstation
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MATLAB (data science, scientific computing)
References:
Darya Dolenko, PIRT Manager/Instructional Professional Sr
Arizona State University Physics Department
Darya.Makarova@asu.edu | (480) 727-8398)
David Maiullo, Physics Demonstration Specialist
Rutgers University Physics Department
maiullo@rutgers.edu | (848) 445-9081
Sian Proctor, Professor of Geoscience
South Mountain Community College (SMCC)
Ivan Blaustein, XR Team Manager
Blue Origin