Matthew Kapust

Since 2009, Matthew Kapust has been blending technical skills and creative storytelling to bring the work of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) to life. With a background in science communication, event planning, and creative media production—as well as hands-on experience managing a family business and owning rental properties—Matthew is a true jack of all trades.

His path to SURF began long before his first day on the job. Growing up in the Black Hills, Matt followed the story of the Homestake Mine’s closure and the vision of transforming it into an underground science lab. The connection was personal as his father worked at Homestake in the late 1970s, mining below the 5000 level. While studying mass communication and media production at Black Hills State University, Matt earned an internship at SURF in 2009, placing him at the heart of a story he had been watching for years.

Today, Matthew’s favorite part of the job is telling stories that connect people to science. Whether he’s photographing a moment underground or seeing visitors’ eyes light up during Neutrino Day, he thrives on making science accessible, inspiring, and relevant to the public. His specialties include creative problem-solving, developing user-friendly tools and processes, and finding innovative ways to showcase SURF’s research through visual media.