Session F16: Historical, Diverse, and Inclusive Physics

Entropy and Tropes

In the mid-1800's, Clausius described entropy, the differential of which described how thermodynamic processes transform a system's ability to do useful work. He coined the term from the Greek word τροπη (trope) which means "transformation". Over time, entropy would be connected to ensembles and microstates, information theory, blackbody radiation, and black holes. Coming full circle, this transformation of Clausius' entropy to these new scenarios are tropes, rhetorical relationships that turn theory and help us understand phenomena in new ways. In this talk, I will share my observations from interdisciplinary research with a scholar of rhetoric. Using the troping of entropy as a case study, we notice an interesting conclusion: physicists trope.   

The Dye That Binds: Discovering the Gluon

As part of a long-range project to record the history of the Standard Model of particle physics, I am currently researching a comprehensive history of the conception, elaboration and discovery of the gluon — the gauge boson responsible for transmitting the strong force among quarks. Initially conceived by Murray Gell-Mann in 1964, this idea was substantially elaborated upon in the ensuing decade, especially after the emergence of asymptotically free field theories and quantum chromodynamics in 1973. In this lecture I will focus on the 1979 elucidation of three-jet events in the hadronic final state of electron-positron interactions at the PETRA collider at DESY, which were accepted by the high-energy physics community as conclusive evidence for the existence of a new elementary particle. Significant controversy erupted after all four PETRA collaborations revealed evidence for these events at the Lepton-Photon Symposium held that year at Fermilab. I will argue that this priority battle resulted in part due to subtle cultural differences among these groups, along the lines of what Peter Galison has dubbed the "image" and "logic" experimental traditions in microphysics. In the final analysis, it was the combination of these differing but congruent interpretations of the e⁺e^– —> hadrons data that ultimately convinced the high-energy physics community that the expected gluon had been discovered.   

The Evolution of Atomic Theory: Using Archival Materials in Physics Education

Using the framework of the historical evolution of atomic theory, this presentation gives an overview of the usage of archival materials, especially from the Emilio Segré Visual Archives, to enrich the education of students in the classroom. Facets cover interactive learning through research and Wikipedia editing, the use of American Institute of Physics (AIP) Center for the History of Physics (CHP) Teaching Guides that offer vessels for studying specific underrepresented individuals and topics, and the importance of considering history when studying physics in the modern day. Through a discussion of different ways libraries, archives, and historical records can be used to deepen physics studies, this talk seeks to emphasize the importance of preserving the history of physics and the stories of the individuals who played a part in it.   

Taking high energy physics to higher altitudes

Since 2013, physicists and science journalists from CERN and the U.S. have been carrying out education and outreach activities in Nepal. The activities include high energy physics seminars and hands-on data analysis sessions at universities; career sessions for college-bound and grad-school-bound students; outreach programs at middle and high schools; public programs in restaurants and other venues; and meetings with university administrators and government policy-makers. These activities have directly resulted in recruitment of summer students and high school teachers for training at CERN, international cooperation agreement between CERN and Nepal, establishment of a high-performance computing center at Kathmandu University, and a continuous stream of graduate students in physics, particularly in high energy physics, in the U.S. In this talk, I will highlight some of the past efforts, outcomes, and future plans.   

Increasing HEP Participation at Minority Serving Institutions through the GROWTH-MSI Traineeship Program: Progress, Successes, and Lessons Learned So Far.

The GROWTH-MSI is a 3-year program led by two California State Universities (CSUs): Stanislaus and Sonoma. The program aims to expand research opportunities in high-energy physics (HEP)  for underserved undergraduates at CSUs with a 1.5-year traineeship. It encompasses an introductory course, seminars, workshops in HEP, and co-mentorship from local and Department of Energy (DOE) mentors. After 1 semester in the program the trainees develop, plan, and execute a summer undergraduate research experience with their mentors. Each trainee receives compensation through scholarships during the academic year and is paid for work at a DOE site, along with a housing allowance. Currently in its inaugural year, the program has a cohort of 7 students from 4 different CSUs: Stanislaus, Sonoma, San Francisco, and East Bay. This presentation will provide an overview of the program's current progress, successes, and lessons learned thus far.   

Updates on APS-IDEA: Facilitating Community Transformation

The APS Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity Alliance (APS-IDEA) is one of the largest DEIA organizations serving the physics community. Established at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, APS-IDEA had to restructure its programming early to meet our community where they are. In the past 2 years, we have continued to adapt in response to feedback from network-wide surveys. Our goal is to provide networking opportunities with both DEI-engaged physicists and DEI professionals so that Teams of physicists gain insights and information applicable to their own department in order to enact profound and lasting change. We've modified our curriculum, our meeting styles, and our funding structure, but we have retained our commitment to a theory of change that emphasizes genuine understanding of the sociological concepts that underlie effective organizational change and DEI.   

Being blind in the world of High Energy Physics

Selection mode on, Being blind, as with any disability, brings with it a whole host of challanges.
, , There are not that many people who are visually impaired working in high energy physics.
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, , This talk attempts to look at the intersection of those two worlds.
, , It will explore some of the struggles of doing work in this field while being blind 2 Dash looking at both the physical challanges as well as the structural and instutional.
, , Go through the differences in perspective that something like that can bring.
, , As well as taking a gander through some of the tools, technologies and techniques that exist to mitigate those issues; many of which come from right the most unexpected sources.
, , It is a humble attempt to raise awareness of these issues in order to make the pursuit of scientific research more accessible to more people who may wish to engage in it.
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, Window Keep Notes