Bulletin of the American Physical Society
APS April Meeting 2011
Volume 56, Number 4
Saturday–Tuesday, April 30–May 3 2011; Anaheim, California
Session L5: Initiatives for Broadening Participation of Minorities in Graduate Level Physics |
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Sponsoring Units: COM CSWP Chair: Yesim Darici, Florida International University Room: Royal AB |
Sunday, May 1, 2011 3:30PM - 4:06PM |
L5.00001: Enhancing Diversity at the PhD Level in Physics: The Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program Invited Speaker: We very briefly review the current status of underrepresented minorities in the physical sciences: The underrepresentation of Black-, Hispanic-, and Native-Americans is an order of magnitude problem. We then describe the Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge program as a successful model for effective partnerships with minority-serving institutions toward addressing this problem. Since 2004 the program has admitted 42 students, 37 of them underrepresented minorities (60{\%} female), with a retention rate of 92{\%}. The program is on pace to become the nation's top producer of underrepresented minority PhDs in physics, astronomy, and materials science. Already, the program leads the nation in master's degrees in physics for African Americans, and is one of the top ten producers of physics master's degrees among all US citizens in general. We summarize the main features of the program including two of its core strategies: (1) partnering a minority-serving institution and a major research university through collaborative research, and (2) using the master's degree as a deliberate stepping stone to the PhD. We also specifically discuss one of the emerging core theories of the program: the concept of students with ``unrealized or unrecognized potential.'' We discuss our methods to recognize and select for unrealized potential during the admissions process, and how we cultivate that unrealized potential toward development of successful scientists and leaders. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, May 1, 2011 4:06PM - 4:42PM |
L5.00002: Best Practices from the University of Michigan Applied Physics Program to Enhance Diversity Invited Speaker: The Applied Physics Program at the University of Michigan allows graduate students to do research at the frontier between the physical sciences and technological applications, which is not readily accommodated by traditional single-focus graduate programs. In the last two decades, the program has attracted many underrepresented minority and female students, matched these students with faculty with research programs that are beyond the traditional boundaries of physics, and provided the support structure and mentorship that was needed for the students to succeed. Building on our success, we have recently launched a master's bridge program designed to prepare students from underrepresented groups for doctoral studies in applied physics, physical sciences and engineering. In this talk, I will share some of our best practices that can be used by other programs that are interested in enhancing diversity. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, May 1, 2011 4:42PM - 5:18PM |
L5.00003: Minority PhDs in Physics: 20{\%} Representation and a Plan to Address This Invited Speaker: Physics ranks near the bottom of science disciplines in helping minorities attain PhDs; only 5-6{\%} of all doctorates given to US citizens go to Hispanic-, African-, or Native-Americans. The good news is that to bring this number up to 10{\%} (the rate at which we educate minorities at the bachelor level) will require only about 20 more individuals each year. The American Physical Society is launching a national program to replicate effective bridge programs with minority serving institutions and leading research universities. This presentation will give a description of tactics that have been shown to assist all students in making the transition to graduate school from both intellectual and social perspectives. In addition, details of the APS bridge program will be presented. We hope that the presentation will inspire further discussion about and interest in participating in these efforts. [Preview Abstract] |
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