Amy Graves, Swarthmore College
November 26, 2013

We physicists like to think of our field as a pure, intellectual activity ... a realm where bright people should flourish regardless of their race or gender. On the other hand, race and gender are key features around which we base our personal identities. And whether we like it or not, personal identity is bound up with professional identity. So whether a college student chooses science, whether they persist, and if they ultimately become a scientist, has a great deal to do with their race and gender, particularly for a "hard" science like physics. This talk will bring in threads from the history of science, education, social psychology, and feminist critique of science, to try and address where women and underrepresented minorities stand today, and how physics can continue to become more inclusive to all.

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Colloquia are held Tuesdays in Room 1410 at 4:00 pm (preceded by light refreshments at 3:30). If you have additional questions, please call 301-405-5946.