Pawan Dhakal is a physicist, educator, and builder who founded HICS to support the development of locally rooted scientific infrastructure and experiential learning in Nepal. He holds an A.B. cum Laude in Physics with High Honors and Mathematics from Dartmouth College, where he completed a Senior Honors Thesis on high-precision helium spectroscopy and quantum gravity effects, and an M.Sc. in Physics from The Ohio State University. His academic research focus includes dark matter phenomenology, cosmic ray physics, and radar meteor detection.
Prior to HICS, Pawan served as the Senior Products Manager at Open Learning Exchange Nepal (OLE Nepal) from 2023 to 2026, leading the design and implementation of unified offline-first learning platforms and accessibility initiatives. He has also been a post-graduate teaching and research fellow at Crystal Mountain School in Dho Tarap Valley, Dolpo (4,000m+) and Shree Janajyoti School in Upper Mustang (~3,000m), where he designed passive solar structures and established offline computer labs. He serves as an Educational Consultant and Program Advisor for Vision Dolpo, directing educational development and sustainable school infrastructure work in remote high-altitude regions.