We believe that collaborative and successful research environments are fundamentally supportive and inclusive. This is reflected in the history of our group - we began in 2014 as Women in Physics with a series of talks for women graduate students to increase networking, improve members’ confidence, and create camaraderie. In 2017 we changed our name to more explicitly invite all gender minorities into the space.
Below is suggested reading on the experiences of under-represented minorities (including women in general, women of color in particular, LGBTQ individuals, and Black physicists). Many of the articles include concrete suggestions for steps that can be taken to improve department culture. Have a suggestion for an article that speaks to you? Let us know!
Women in the History of Quantum Physics, from Cambridge University Press (2025).
The Unwritten Laws of Physics for Black Women, by Katrina Miller (Physics PhD’23) published in Wired (2022).
Common Challenges Faced by Women of Color in Physics, and Actions Faculty Can Take to Minimize Those Challenges, by Angela Johnson et al and published in The Physics Teacher (2017).
Report: LGBT+ Climate in Physics, from the American Physical Society (2016).