About me
Dorina Girbovan - Experienced Science Educator, International Space Ambassador, Founder, Trainer, and Speaker.
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As an experienced Canadian and Romanian educator and mentor, Dorina Girbovan is passionate about inspiring others to reach their full potential. She serves as a trainer, speaker and 360 science consultant, sharing insights and expertise to enhance educational experiences.
Dorina is the founder and CEO of Beyond The Stars Education, an NGO that provides teachers and students with access to role models, mentors, educational training, and professional networks, supporting their career development in STEM and space-related industries. She is committed to promoting access to science educational resources and space camps for all Romanian students, with a particular focus on the inclusion of those with disabilities. For this, Dorina pioneered the SCIVIS Romania program (Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students) held at the US Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.
With two Master's in Physics, one Master's in Chemistry, and one Ph.D. in Physics, Dorina has been a Physics and Chemistry teacher for over 25 years, leading the Science and ICT Faculty at private schools around the world for 16 years. Being elected HESA via NASA Education International Ambassador in 2018 at the US Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama, US, she dedicates her career to promoting science and space education for teachers and people worldwide.
Dorina is a speaker and astronaut moderator, participating in multiple science and space events worldwide. In 2023, she was the only Romanian speaker at the Space Exploration Educators Conference at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston.
As a certified trainer, Dorina leads STE(A)M and AI teachers’ workshops, training events, and professional development across Romania and the US. With over 24 years of teaching experience at high schools and universities in Romania, Canada, and the USA, her students won first prizes in multiple international science contests held by the Royal Society of Chemistry, COBIS, ESA, and NASA. Besides these, she is a Physics Cambridge examiner, a Science curriculum developer, a Science and Space curriculum expert, and a book author.
Since 2024, Dorina has led as the G100 Romania Country Chair for the Space Technology & Aviation Wing, advocating for the promotion of women in science and technology. In the same year, she became part of the International Teacher Liaison, Flight 24 from Space Foundation, an elite group of 325 space educators from all over the world, placing Romania one more time on the world’s educational map. Furthermore, she was awarded the Women’s Space Awards Global Winner for Education and Outreach from Women’s Aerospace.
Dorina is internationally recognized for her contributions to advancing STE(A)M education in Romania and currently serves as the Romanian ambassador for the Mission – ShakthiSAT. Through her leadership with Beyond The Stars Education, a group of 95 Romanian girls aged 14 to 18 is participating in a groundbreaking 120-hour online space course, an inspiring gateway to careers in STEM and the space sector. This initiative is part of a global effort to empower 12,000 young women from 108 countries through transformative STEM education and the boundless possibilities of space exploration.
Dorina’s mission is to inspire and empower future generations of STEM and Space leaders toward a path of discovery, knowledge, and success. She fosters global expertise, critical thinking, perseverance, and excellence while partnering with educational institutions, organizations, and individuals striving for success.
Above all, a human being who leads with courage, who wants to serve all by sharing her knowledge, experience, and energy with future generations of students and adults, especially women, to become the next leaders in science.