Physics Identity Program

Background

Clare Boothe Luce’s (CBL) legacy lives through creating programs that “encourage women to enter, study, graduate, and teach” in STEM fields [Clare Boothe Luce Program: Program Aims]. One of the most important steps to encouraging more people of color and women to enter into and stay in physics is to build up a supportive community and have programs that facilitate building a “physics identity” [To read more about this, check out the TEAM-UP Report from the AIP].

A “Physics Identity” is defined as an individual’s capacity to consider themselves as a physicist. For many people who enter into physics, this can be difficult to achieve due to the demographics of physics departments, opportunities presented to students in terms of professional development, hands-on research, and scientific conference activities [Hyater-Adams et al. 2018]. With this in consideration, the University of San Diego Department of Physics and Biophysics has developed an umbrella program geared towards helping build a strong community of physics and biophysics majors. This program encourages and provides opportunities for students to build their physics identity through professional development interactive events, networking opportunities with professionals in physics and biophysics, social physics book club discussions, coffee hours, and outreach efforts. 

The Physics Identity Program (aka PIP)

Students can apply to PIP any semester they are enrolled at University of San Diego. Students who are accepted into the program are expected to engage in at least 10 hours of department-sponsored activities during the semester and commit to 1 hour of mentorship activities each month. As part of the program, students are matched with local community members from industry or academia, and students are coached on how to be a good mentee. Students participating in the program earn a $150 stipend each semester they are enrolled in the program, and are eligible for up to $500 per year in conference-related fees. PIP will also cover annual APS membership fees for participating students, registration fees and travel to the regional APS CU*iP meeting, and SPS memberships for all USD students. 

A variety of department-sponsored activities are offered on a weekly, monthly, and semester basis. Each week, the department hosts a social coffee hour and faculty-led yoga. Dr. Mossman hosts a professional development event on a variety of topics as well as a weekend social event each month, and a end-of-semester study break after classes complete. SPS also partners with PIP to host events such as movie nights, fun runs, and student-led ultimate frisbee. All of these activities are open to all students at USD.

To learn more about the program or programming that is offered, contact Dr. Mossman.