Motivation

Conference Proposal

In response to the underrepresentation of women in physics, we will host a two-day conference in January 2008 for undergraduate women in physics that focuses on the critical transition from undergraduate to graduate study. The conference’s overarching aim is to give young women the confidence, motivation and resources to apply to graduate school and successfully complete a PhD.

Objectives

The overall goals of the conference are:

To help female undergraduate physics majors transition successfully from undergraduate to graduate studies in physics.

To foster an undergraduate culture in California, the Midwest and Northeast and specifically at USC, the University of Michigan, and Yale University in which women are encouraged and supported to pursue and succeed in higher education in physics.

To strengthen the network of women in physics in the Midwest, Northeast and California and nationally.

In order to meet these goals, the specific objectives for the conference are that the participants leave with:

Increased awareness of current research and career options in physics.

Greater familiarity with the graduate school experience.

Resources for applying to and being successful in graduate school, as well as general resources for women in physics.

A network of women in physics.

Statement of Need

The low representation of women in physics is an issue of international concern and has been highlighted by events such as the recent 2nd IUPAP International Conference on Women in Physics[1].  This disparity points to an untapped resource of talented women who could contribute to the scientific community and future developments in science. The percentage of degrees awarded to women in physics in the USA is much lower than in some other countries.

In the AIP report, Women in Physics and Astronomy, 2005, the US ranked 12th out of 19 countries for percentage of PhDs awarded to women and 11th out of 20 countries for percentage of Bachelor’s Degrees awarded to women2. The representation of women in physics drops as one goes higher up the academic ladder. One of the key transitions is from undergraduate school to graduate school. Nationally 22% of Physics Bachelors degrees were awarded to women. In contrast only 18% of Physics PhDs were awarded to women. Perhaps even more striking is the fact that only 13% of the US citizens receiving PhDs were women[2].

Recognizing the need for increased efforts focused on the undergraduate-to-graduate transition, two graduate students at USC conceived and organized a Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics, held at USC on January 14-15, 2006. The conference was attended by 29 undergraduate women from a diverse group of institutions across California. The conference was enthusiastically supported at all levels of the institution and funded entirely by USC, demonstrating the University’s commitment to this issue. With funding from NSF and continued support from USC, a Second Annual Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics was held at USC on Jan 13-14, 2007. This conference was attended by significantly more undergraduate women (71), including two seed groups from UMich and Yale.

Inspired by the success of the first two conferences, and a desire to make this event accessible to undergraduate women across the US, we are holding in 2008 three conferences for undergraduate women in physics at USC, UMich and Yale. Conference topics will include:

• Current research areas in physics

• Choosing the right graduate school

• Careers opportunities in physics

• Challenges and successes of women in physics

• Ways to succeed as a woman in physics

• Undergraduate physics research

[1] Second IUPAP International Conference on Women in Physics
http://www.cbpf.br/~women-physics/

[2] Ivie, Rachel, and Kim Nies Ray, (2005) Women in Physics and Astronomy,
2005 College Park MD: American Institute of Physics.