Breakout Sessions

We will have a number of Breakout Sessions running simultaneously, repeated several times throughout the conference. The topics are highlighted below. There will be sign-up sheets at check-in for you to select the sessions you would like to attend.

Professional skills (Gosnell 2355)

Professional Skills Development workshops are designed to provide women physicists with professional training in effective negotiation, communication and leadership skills, as well as a special opportunity for networking. The primary workshop goal is to produce more women leaders in physics and to help these women achieve their full potential in the top ranks of their profession.

Applying to graduate school (Gosnell 3305)

In this session we’ll discuss how the graduate school application process works from start to finish. Topics will include the application timeline, preparing an application, MS vs PhD programs, the GRE, the personal statement, reference letters, fellowship opportunities, deciding which school to attend and information resources. The facilitators have experience from both sides of the process and include a graduate program director, a current post-doc and current graduate students.

Impostor Syndrome (Gosnell 1154)

Do you feel that you have fooled other people into believing you are smarter and more capable than you actually are? A recurring theme in academia and industry is that women and men alike have a difficult time owning their accomplishments. The more accomplished you are the more severe it can be. In this session we will explore the characteristics of imposter syndrome and discuss approaches to pushing through and recognizing that you're not an impostor after all.

Out in STEM (Campus Center 2050 / Reading Room)

Out in STEM will be an interactive session to discuss common themes that we as members of the LGBTQIA+ community experience in the STEM field. The session will be geared toward members of the community looking to build their network and learn more about the current state of being Out in STEM.

How to be an effective ally (SAU 1500)

"How to Be an Effective Ally" is aimed at people who want to be better allies and people who want better allies. You will leave this session with not only the language and tools to strengthen your stance against prejudice but also a better grasp of why being an ally in STEM is important.

Work-life balance (Gosnell 2130)

Far too often, especially in the physical sciences, life can seem like an endless "all work, no play." While physics may require a lot of hard work, it doesn't mean having to put the best years of one's life on hold. In this breakout session, we will discuss the importance of work/life balance and methods for achieving it.

Mental health (Gosnell 1174)

Stress, anxiety, and depression are prevalent across all disciplines and careers. These issues can even be enhanced for those that face the challenges that come along with being a member of an under-represented demographic. In this session we aim to support, acknowledge, and offer advice in regards to these and other mental health issues that you may face during your career.

Entering the workforce (Gosnell 3365)

Over 40% of physics majors enter the workforce directly after graduation, many of whom pursue jobs that are not titled, “physicist.” What you are learning as physics majors is valuable for a broad range of career paths. The breakout session on Entering the Workforce will help you explore possible career options and describe your own skills in relation to these. You will also consider some specific challenges that women in physics face when entering the STEM workforce and brainstorm some strategies to address these challenges.

Starting undergraduate research (Gosnell 1305)

Looking to do undergraduate research? Come find out how to get involved and what to expect once you're in it!

Difficult Situations (Gosnell 2154)

Our degrees provide us with the tools we need to accomplish our work tasks but they don't provide us with all of the social tools for interacting with others. This discussion session is designed to inspire a level of comfort along with a toolkit for dealing with the sensitive and sometimes difficult situations that may be seen throughout any career path.

Current topics in physics (Gosnell 1300)

1) The world of magnetic materials

This will be a multi-media talk with examples of different types of materials and why they’re so important in today’s world. Research topics will include magnetic nanoparticles and their applications from biomedicine to cell phones; magnetic thin films and why they’re necessary for computers; and from 0D to 3D, how dimensionality affects magnetism and how we can use it.

2) Thunder and lightning from Cosmic Titans in the Era of Multi-Messenger Astronomy

The recent observation of gravitational waves by the advanced LIGO-Virgo detectors has ushered in a new era of exploration and discovery. The significance is of lasting importance, one that will require the rewriting of science textbooks. Not only did these discoveries further validate Einstein’s theory of gravitation, but they also brought astronomy into a new era by providing an entirely novel way to observe the most fascinating and powerful events in the universe -- colliding black holes and neutron stars, exploding stars, and even the birth of the Universe itself. With the advent of gravitational wave observations, multi-wavelength time-domain astronomy and neutrino observations of astrophysical sources, we have now truly entered the era of multi-messenger astronomy.

3) The interaction of mechanical motion with light

This session will focus on optically levitated systems, which are outstanding candidates for sensing applications as well as investigating the foundations of quantum physics. The discussion will center on rotational motion, including, but not limited to a number of toys based on angular momentum.

4) The Search for Extrasolar Planets

During this session, we will present the latest results in the search for extrasolar planets, including the various techniques that are used, and the potential likelihood for habitability.

5) Developing a Terahertz Detector

THz is a region of the electromagnetic spectrum that has been largely unexplored until very recently due to atmospheric absorption and other properties. Most detectors are large, expensive, fragile, or all of the above. There's a large list of applications for a THz device including astrophysics, medical, manufacturing, security, and more. The detector is a Silicon MOSFET which are used in most technology today and because the technology is CMOS like many cameras today, manufacturing on a larger scale will be simple. The underlying detection mechanism has not been conclusively determined yet which is part of my research. This session will present the many challenges of modeling and matching theories to experimental data from real world experiments.

Step-Up 4 Women (SAU 1510/1829 Room on Sat and Campus Center 1010 on Sun)

Direct action to increase women in physics: How you can help change the physics community

While nearly ½ of the students taking physics in high school are women, only ⅕ of the students interested in physics majors in college are women. How can you help to change this pattern? Physics education researchers have developed two high school physics class lessons that have been shown to increase the interest of high school women in physics careers. Join us to learn about this exciting program to help high school teachers encourage women to pursue physics careers and how you can help change the way high school students view their future in physics. Learn more at stepup4women.org.

Information Session on University of Southern California Graduate Engineering Opportunities for Physics Majors (Saturday at 5PM in Gosnell 2300)