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Help support women in physics!

The Need

Physics majors are great problem solvers, prepared to meet the needs of the ever changing quantitative workplace. 70% of all physics majors are hired directly into a variety of engineering, computer and information science, and other technology positions in the private sector

The Problem

Women* represent only 20% of majors in physics, engineering, and computer science, and the situation has not improved in 25 years


*For women with minoritized or nontraditional backgrounds, the situation is much worse, indicating a large pool of untapped potential

Our Solution

The goal of CUWiP is to help undergraduate women continue in physics by providing:

  • mentoring about graduate school and professions related to physics

  • network with members of the private sector who hire physics-trained applicants

  • membership in a welcoming and supportive community of professional STEM women at all stages in their careers

All donations will go directly to supporting attendees

Individual Donations

No donation is too small, please support at whatever level is comfortable for you.

Corporate Donations

Become a benefactor!

Your contribution would be going towards support for attendees, including covering application/traveling/lodging expenses, to ensure that hardships do not deter those that would benefit from going. Everyone deserves the opportunity to share the love of physics!

Our expected audience: 180 attendees + 40 graduate student volunteers

UW Physics is taking strides toward solving the problem of female underrepresentation in physics

CUWiP is having an effect on departmental culture:

  • Our PhD program just admitted an incoming class that is, for the very first time, majority female (nationally, of first year physics PhD students, ~20% identify as female)

  • Of the last 4 tenure-track professors that the department has hired, 3 identify as female (nationally, of tenure-track physics faculty in R1 institutions, ~15% identify as female)

CUWiP and the UW are natural partners, sharing common goals:

  • Provide a high-level professional environment that few women in physics ever experience, one in which they are the majority, feel welcome, accepted and safe, and define the cultural norms

  • Participants (and presenters/organizers) make connections with professionals and with each other that can serve as a resource throughout their careers

  • Refine norms within the broader physics community, so as to foster greater diversity through improved professional practices and discourse, and a more welcoming and supportive environment

UW CUWiP Details:

  • Attendance is for undergraduate physics majors, or those interested in majoring in physics, drawn from two- and four year colleges (including tribal colleges)

  • Outreach will be made to all colleges in the NW area (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming) to encourage participation

  • Support for participants' accommodations are provided by grants form the American Physical Society; all other costs (meals, rooms, and honoria) must be covered by fundraising

Representation of women in physics is not improving on its own, if you have decided to contribute to help make a difference:

THANK YOU!!!

Without donors like you, CUWiP would not be possible.