& TM CSWP COM

Vol. 36, No. 1 Spring 2017

Newsletter of the Committee on the Status of & the Committee on Minorities of the American Physical Society

INSIDEGazetteGuest Editorial: Hidden Figures: Propelling the Next Generation Trina L. Coleman, PhD

Guest Editorial: nticipation, excitement, camaraderie; Hidden Figures: Aall of these emotions oozed from ev- Propelling the Next eryone mingling inside of the Air Generation & Space Center on December 1st as we 1 gathered for the VIP screening of Hidden Blewett Fellowship Figures. The buzz surrounding the incred- Past Recipients ible story told by Margot Lee Shetterly of 1 three amazing women – Katherine John- CSWP WiP Awards son, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan – 2 and their contributions to the “Space Race” The Conferences makes native Hamptonians such as myself for Undergraduate giddy with pride. This pride comes from Women in Physics knowing that the true embodiment of sci- 2 ence, technology, engineering and math- Hidden Figures: ematics (STEM) required to propel the first Experiences of Black Americans into space happened in Hamp- Women in STEM ton, VA, home of the first NASA site. More 3 importantly, pride because these three bril- Inclusion Best liant, Black women were groundbreakers Practices? that opened doors for scientists and math- Trina L. Coleman, presenting a photo of African American 4 ematicians like me, although they were his- Women in Physics to Katherine Johnson. APS Adopts Code torically anonymous until recently. of Conduct For All The mechanics of the movie Hidden Figures were movie, Katherine G. Johnson. Having had the honor Meetings executed flawlessly; extraordinary writing, a stellar and privilege of meeting and briefly speaking with her 5 cast, attention to detail, great soundtrack, and a win- before, I immediately sensed extreme clarity in her, as Obituary: ning, feel good ending. That’s the experience that most well as the intrinsic characteristic of intellectual order Professor Marjorie will take away when they see it. What most will not that great minds possess. Corcoran experience is the incredible opportunity to watch the While watching the events unfold onscreen, I was 5 screening of Hidden Figures with the REAL star of the continued on page 3 Women and Minorities Named to APS Fellowship in 2016 M. Hildred Blewett Fellowship: Past Recipient Updates 6 he Blewett Fellowship was established with a gen- See what last year’s recipients have been up to and Recent APS Women Terous bequest from M. Hildred Blewett, an ac- how the award has helped them! Physicists of the celerator physicist, who died in 2004. Hildred Blewett Month was passionate about physics and wanted to help wom- 9 Nicole Lloyd-Ronning en overcome obstacles by establishing the fellowship Since the conclusion of my Blewett Fellowship, I Meet the 2017 COM to enable women to return to physics research careers have continued to work with the computational phys- and CSWP Chairs after interrupting those careers. The fellowship consists ics group at Los Alamos National Labs, investigating and New Committee of a one-year award of up to $45,000 for dependent Members a number of different aspects of massive stellar deaths 10 care (limited to 50% of the award), salary, travel, and relativistic outflows. Lately, I have been focusing equipment, and tuition and fees. The application dead- line is June 1, 2017. continued on page 12 2

Managing Editors CSWP Awards $10,000 to Women in Physics Groups Arlene Modeste Knowles Miranda Bard he APS Committee on the Status of Women in Women in Physics groups. Congratulations to TPhysics (CSWP) provides Women in Physics • City College of Members of CSWP Group grants to support the CSWP mission of recruit- • Colby College Patricia Rankin, Chair ing and retaining women in physics at the under- Kristen M. Burson graduate level. Women in Physics (WiP) groups are • Drexel University Miriam Deutsch uniquely able to address this mission by encouraging • Georgia Institute of Technology Roxanne Hughes and supporting the participation of women in their Laura McCullough departments. The purpose of the grant program is to • Rutgers University Elizabeth Mann improve recruitment and/or retention of women in • University of Colorado Boulder Kerstin N. Nordstrom physics through (1) the establishment of new WiP Pearl Sandick • University of Northern Iowa groups, (2) expansion or strengthening of existing Cha-Mei Tang • University of Oregon Jenna Walrath groups, and (3) improvement in sustainability within new and existing groups. • University of Wisconsin-Madison Last year, 14 groups received funds to host alum- Members of COM • Virginia Military Institute Edmundo J Garcia-Solis, ni talks, speaker series, programs for high school stu- Chair dents, mentorship programs, socials, journal clubs, • Western Washington University Ivy Krystal Jones community outreach, professional development work- For more information about applying for a Wom- Angela Little shops, and lab tours. en in Physics Group Grant, please visit go.aps.org/ Marie Lopez del Puerto This year, the CSWP awarded $10,000 to 11 wipgrants. Charles McGruder Casey Miller Jesus Pando William Ratcliff Carol Scarlett Garfield Warren The 2017 Conferences for Undergraduate Women in

APS Liaison Physics Were a Big Success and 2018 Sites Have Been Theodore Hodapp Director of Project Selected Development and Sr. Advisor to APS Education PS Conferences for Undergraduate Women in • University of Toledo & Diversity Department Physics (CUWiP) help undergraduate women A • University of Virginia continue in physics by providing them with the op- Graphic Designer portunity to experience a professional conference, get Student registration will open September 1, 2017. Nancy Bennett-Karasik information about graduate school and professions in If you are interested in hosting a conference at your in- physics, and meet other women in physics of all ages stitution in 2019, please visit www.aps.org/cuwip and Publication Information with whom they can share experiences, advice, and fill out an Expression of Interest form by September The COM/CSWP ideas. On January 13-15, 2017, these conferences were 1, 2017. GAZETTE, a newsletter of the American Physical hosted simultaneously at 10 sites across the U.S. and Society Committee on Canada, with over 1,600 students in attendance. The Minorities (COM) and keynote was simulcast to all 10 sites, and featured Pro- Committee on the Status fessor Nergis Mavalvala of MIT, who is best known of Women in Physics for her work on the detection of gravitational waves. (CSWP), is mailed free of charge to all those In January 2018, CUWiP will be hosted at 12 listed on the Roster of sites, including: Women and Minorities in Physics, all U.S. • Arizona State University physics department • Cal Poly Pomona/Pomona College/Harvey Mudd chairs, and others upon College request. Please address all correspondence to: COM/ • Columbia University CSWP Gazette, American Physical Society, One • George Washington University Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, or • Iowa State University email to: [email protected]. • Rochester Institute of Technology Opinions expressed are those of the authors and • Queen’s University (Canada) do not necessarily reflect the views of the APS or of • University of Kansas the COM and CSWP. • University of North Florida Undergraduate student poster session at Virginia • University of Oregon Tech. Photo: Kate Scholburg 3 Hidden Figures continued from page 1 wondering how Mrs. Katherine was processing what strain. During that summer, our unit received pieces of was going on. Was she doing the calculations in her the Challenger remains. head? Was she reliving the “light bulb” moment of I would also spend time at NASA/Langley while the trajectory solution presenting itself to her? Was working on my M.S. research in Materials. It was not she reminiscing about her close friendship with Mary uncommon to run into now astronaut Leland Melvin; Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn? Was she thinking about his office was on the same floor as my advisor’s. the racial divide that existed to constantly remind her These experiences were special and an integral that she was a “Negro,” despite the fact that she was part of my academic path, but it wasn’t until recently an integral and necessary part of the success of the that I could see the true connection between my journey Friendship 7 mission and missions to follow? and the bigger picture. I was sitting in the theater with What occurred to me during the movie was the re- Katherine Johnson, watching her story unfold on screen ality that the trajectory of her life, the other West Area while concurrently reflecting on mine. That is one awe- Computers’ lives, and the necessity of inclusion were somely indescribable feeling. It won’t, however, negate strongly dependent on the competition between the US the sense of loss that I feel because I wasn’t allowed to and the USSR. Winning was everything, and the white, engage with her as a student, a student on-site at NASA Mrs. Katherine G. Johnson, male dominated research and development teams real- while she was still there. I am extremely grateful, none- whose life and career was ized they were at a critical stage. A broader, collective theless that I had the opportunity to meet her. portrayed in the movie, intelligence would be required while serving the com- If traveling around the city of Hampton, one will Hidden Figures, based on mon goal, so NASA/Langley had to step outside of the notice seven bridges with the names of the original Margot Lee Shetterly’s boundaries of the “zone of white, male privilege” to book by the same name seven astronauts: Grissom, Carpenter, Slayton, Coo- enlist more manpower and computing power. Despera- per, Shepard, Schirra and Glenn. Bridges, as defined, tion apparently breeds tolerance and tolerance breeds are built to ensure safe passage from one point to opportunity. Opportunity allowed me, a sophomore physics another. Metaphorically speaking, the names Kather- major, to intern at NASA/Langley in 1985. On my first ine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson are day, I was escorted to a remote location where I would bridges of diversity for generations of young, Black, spend my summer working. My mentor had two struc- brilliant women that so desperately need safe pass tures assigned to him: a one-story lab, and next to it a across many of the same obstacles they faced. I think domed concrete building. We walked into the concrete the City of Hampton should put the names of these dome where he stored the chemicals that would be the women on individual bridges; we have 39. focus of my project (I still have the code I wrote), and Dr. Trina Coleman is an educator, scientist, en- he casually stated that the first astronauts trained here. trepreneur, author and public speaker. Dr. Coleman I was actually standing inside of the Human Centri- earned a B.A. in Physics from Hampton University in fuge location, intrigued but not yet fully appreciative 1987; M.S. in Condensed Matter Physics from Hamp- of its historical significance. ton in 1993; and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Nuclear Phys- My second internship placed me in the Non- ics from Hampton in 2001. Dr. Coleman is the founder destructive Evaluation (NDE) unit, in the summer of of Coleman Comprehensive Solutions, LLC and Math- 1986. Various materials were subjected to controlled guistics, LLC. She is also the Technical Executive Of- expansion and compression for measuring stress and ficer of the National Society of Black Physicists.

Hidden Figures Sheds Light on the Experiences of Black Women in STEM - Now What? By LaNell Alexandria Williams, -, Graduate Student, TLSAMP NSF Graduate Research Fellow

idden Figures is an inspiring movie that captures a grim reminder that our paths are and have always Hthe struggles and accomplishments of three black been different than our white peers. But despite being women who navigate their environment at NASA dur- bombarded with adversity in its many forms, we have ing a time when segregation was ever-present. Kath- always found ways to survive. erine Johnson, a mathematician played by Taraji P. One scene that was particularly chilling for me Henson; Mary Jackson, an aspiring engineer played by was the scene in which Katherine Johnson was con- Janelle Monáe; and their supervisor, Dorothy Vaughan fused for “janitorial staff” instead of the talented math- played by Octavia Spencer each contributed a sig- ematician that she was. It reminded me of the many nificant piece to the successful launch of Sputnik I. times that I was confused for “visiting a friend” in The contrast between their experiences and the experi- ences of many black women in STEM fields today was continued on page 4 4 Hidden Figures Sheds Light on the Experiences of Black Women continued from page 3

the physics department during my undergraduate pro- my classrooms, as I go to conferences, and as I navigate gram. And after discovering that their assumptions every space where I am unfortunately “one of the few”. about her status were incorrect, she continued to have In recent years, there has been a push for more her intelligence constantly undermined by her peers on representation in STEM fields without much of a focus a daily basis. Even today, many black women experi- on the livelihood of underrepresented populations. ence the same type of undermining from both their And after we begin to further critique the environ- peers and their mentors. Whether this is done inten- ments that we are placed in, we are often met with the tionally or not, we as a society have not fully accepted assumption that we are somehow ungrateful for the the idea that women of color are as talented in STEM opportunities that we were given. In other words, it is as our white and Asian male counterparts. Neverthe- assumed that we should be “grateful for having a job” less, Katherine was able to overcome the assumptions or a particular opportunity in the first place as Viv- made about her capabilities as a mathematician by ian Michaels, played by Kirsten Dunst, states in Hid- simply being the best. den Figures. Watson-Daniels further explains that this LaNell A.Williams Unfortunately, as women of color in STEM we scene represents the response we often receive when are not allowed to co-exist as equals in our fields. We we begin to further question underrepresentation in the are only accepted once we excel beyond our peers. Jamelle Watson-Daniels, an engineer at Boeing and a scientific community. So far, we have done a great job graduate of Brown University in Physics and Africana at improving the number of underrepresented groups Studies, calls this the “requirement of exceptional- that pursue and continue on in STEM fields; however, As women of color in ism”; a concept where most black women are forced we have failed to focus on improving the environ- STEM we are not allowed to be exceptional to be considered equal to their white ments they are placed in. Although many things have changed since Katherine, Mary, and Dorothy’s time, to co-exist as equals in male counterparts. This expectation is very danger- ous to women of color and is often used as a means to we have a long way to go before we truly begin chang- our fields. We are only “move the finish line” as Dorothy Vaughn stated during ing the environment and culture for black women who accepted once we excel the movie. Even now as I successfully transition into pursue STEM. No one person, group, or program has beyond our peers. graduate school, I continue to find that this expectation all of the answers to solving this problem, but we each is placed upon me as I walk into meetings, as I sit inside have the opportunity to take part in the solution.

Let Us Know What You Think Promotes an Inclusive Environment

he Committee on the Status of Women in Physics Examples of the best practices updates we are Tand the Committee on Minorities are reviewing considering include: and updating their best practices for recruiting and • An annual review of graduate student progress retaining women and minorities in physics. Since these towards degree completion by someone other were originally compiled several years ago, we believe than their advisor. that our community’s understanding of the issues has improved significantly and that as times have changed, • Effective strategies for recruiting so too should the guidelines. While the goal of these underrepresented minorities to departments at all suggestions is to support members of underrepresented levels groups, many will benefit the department as a whole. • Education about the impact of unconscious or We would like to encourage the community to implicit bias and ways to counter it. participate in this work by letting us know how the • Suggestions for how to make departmental social best practices have been working for you. You can activities inclusive of all (e.g. timing of activities, review both sets of best practices at go.aps.org/wom- selection of food, advertising through multiple enphysicsbestpractices. platforms) What practices or activities at your institution are especially effective for recruiting women and minori- If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please ties and promoting an inclusive environment? What email the CSWP chair (Patricia.Rankin@colorado. ideas do you have for a policy or policies that would edu) or the COM chair ([email protected]) help improve the physics experience? with your suggestions.

Join the Conversation in the Women in Physics & Minorities in Physics LinkedIn Groups!

Get updates from APS about: career development opportunities • jobs • conferences • articles related to women and minorities in physics 5 APS Adopts Code of Conduct For All Meetings Theodore Hodapp, Director of Project Development and Senior Advisor to the Department of Education and Diversity

rofessional meetings are an opportunity to speak or intimidating behavior and language, unwel- Pfreely, ask questions, and participate. No one come jokes or comments, unwanted touching or should feel that they are being attacked either verbally attention, offensive images, photography without or physically. Unfortunately, as has been seen in a permission, and stalking. few highly visible cases in the past few years, and Violations of this code of conduct policy should be in numerous other undocumented cases – this is not reported to meeting organizers, APS staff, or the always true. Verbal harassment, physical harassment, APS Director of Meetings. Sanctions may range and sexual harassment does occur, and can contribute from verbal warning, to ejection from the meeting to individuals feeling that perhaps this profession is without refund, to notifying appropriate authori- not for them. ties. Retaliation for complaints of inappropriate One way to counter this is to state the obvious, conduct will not be tolerated. If a participant state it clearly, and state it often: harassment of any observes inappropriate comments or actions and kind is not tolerated. To begin to take these steps, at personal intervention seems appropriate and safe, Theodore Hodapp the end of 2015, the APS Council passed a code of they should be considerate of all parties before conduct for all APS meetings: intervening. It is the policy of the American Physical Society Since it was passed, the APS meetings depart- (APS) that all participants, including attendees, ment has been working to bring it to the attention of vendors, APS staff, volunteers, and all other stake- meeting attendees in various ways: placards, notices holders at APS meetings will conduct themselves hanging outside meeting rooms, in the APS app, and in a professional manner that is welcoming to all on the webpage. Starting this year, every attendee must participants and free from any form of discrimina- acknowledge that they have read and understand the tion, harassment, or retaliation. Participants will code of conduct before registering for a meeting. treat each other with respect and consideration to These are the first steps. The Committee on the create a collegial, inclusive, and professional en- Status of Women in Physics has been considering and vironment at APS Meetings. Creating a supportive recommending other actions to take to reinforce the environment to enable scientific discourse at APS message. We hope that a strong code of conduct will meetings is the responsibility of all participants. prevent harassment from occurring in the first place. Participants will avoid any inappropriate actions That being said, APS has also put in place a process or statements based on individual characteristics to hear and act on complaints, and trained its meet- such as age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ing staff to know how to deal with reports. We are gender identity, gender expression, marital status, still learning and adapting, but these first steps will nationality, political affiliation, ability status, hopefully send a clear message that when you attend a educational background, or any other character- meeting, you need to reflect the professional standards istic protected by law. Disruptive or harassing of behavior that allows every physicist to prosper. Let behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Harass- us know if you have other ideas that will help advance ment includes, but is not limited to inappropriate these views.

Obituary: Professor Marjorie Corcoran

rofessor Marjorie Corcoran, one of the 2017 APS ment chair, a research mentor, and the only female PCUWiP at Rice University site leaders, died in an professor to teach 1st and 2nd year physics classes accident on February 6, 2017. This is a tragic loss for at Rice, her impact on undergraduate female physics all who knew Marj. majors cannot be understated. Her loss is a tremendous The Rice CUWiP Local Organizing Committee blow to all of us who saw her as a role model.” has this remembrance: Her undergraduate students say: “The Rice CUWiP conference would not have “Professor Corcoran was inspirational to each of happened without Professor Corcoran. From the very us, both as a teacher and as an individual. Every stu- beginning, she brought organization, energy, and drive dent can attest to her infectious enthusiasm for particle to our planning committee. During the conference when physics and learning. We truly appreciate her patience everyone was stressed and overwhelmed, I never saw and her eagerness to teach. The door to her office was her smile break — she was always willing to do what always open, welcoming questions about anything — needed to be done, whether it was fixing a name tag, from physics to homework to life advice. Her loss has tracking down a mentor, or making an announcement. affected each of us, and we can’t imagine what our un- Marjorie Corcoran Beyond her immense contributions to the confer- dergraduate experience would have been like without ence, Professor Corcoran was an inspiration to young Dr. Corcoran.” We send our deepest condolences to female physicists everywhere. As a previous depart- Marj’s colleagues, friends and family. 6 Women and Minorities Named to APS Fellowship in 2016

DIVISION OF ASTROPHYSICS Cindy Regal Hiranya Peiris University of Colorado Boulder University College London For observation of quantum radiation pressure noise For significant contributions to the Wilkinson Micro- on a macroscopic object, and establishing quantum wave Anisotropy Probe project, analyses, and control over individual neutral atoms. the application of advanced statistical techniques to a wide range of astronomical data. DIVISION OF BIOPHYSICS Mingming Wu Miguel Mostafa Cornell University Pennsylvania State University For her research into the biophysical and biochemical For his participation in the design, development, con- drivers that guide bacterial and animal cell migration, struction, and operation of the Pierre Auger Observa- and the creation of single cell analysis tools. tory and High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory, for his contribution to the Auger hybrid reconstruction Kalina Hristova and derived measurements of composition, and for his John Hopkins University leadership of the Auger analysis group dedicated to For the development of quantitative methods to probe the search of the sources of the highest energy cosmic membrane protein interactions and to reveal the mech- rays. anism of activation of membrane receptors.

Nicole Bell DIVISION OF CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS For information on University of Melbourne Suhithi Peiris nominating women and For the invention of ballistic electron emission mi- Air Force Research Laboratory croscopy, which is used worldwide for nanometer minorities for APS prizes For technical leadership in the dynamical and chemical resolution imaging of device interface electronic struc- behavior of energetic materials, for technical advances in and awards, please ture, and for contributions to understanding electron both static and dynamic high pressure physics methods, visit aps.org/programs/ transport. and for sustained leadership and service to the American Physical Society and energetic materials community. honors/nomination.cfm Rachel Bean Cornell University Kimitoshi Kono For contributions to the understanding of dark energy, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and her cosmological observations to constrain physics For groundbreaking experiments on the dynamics of beyond the Standard Model of physics. strongly correlated 2-D electron systems and the ob- servation of new collective phenomena in helium us- Megan Donahue ing surface electron states. Michigan State University For advanced cosmological observations and analyses Nina Markovic of galaxy clusters, and of the relationship between the Goucher College thermodynamic state of circumgalactic gas around For important contributions to the experimental study and massive galaxies, the triggering of active galactic nu- understanding of electron transport in low dimensions. cleus feedback, and the regulation of star formation in galaxies. Natalia Perkins University of Minnesota Ann Hornschemeier For theoretical studies of the low-energy behavior of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center strongly correlated electron systems that exhibit an For outstanding contributions to the understanding of interplay of orbital and spin degrees of freedom. physics and the evolution of X-ray binaries in other galaxies. DIVISION OF CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS DIVISION OF ATOMIC, MOLECULAR, AND OPTICAL Humberto Terrones Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute PHYSICS For his pioneering work on the introduction of negative Nirit Dudovich Gaussian curvature in graphitic systems, and unifying Weizmann Institute of Science different kinds of graphenic nanostructures under the For pioneering new measurement schemes and control concept of curvature, leading to the prediction of new of attosecond processes, thus shedding new light on materials and advances in the field of defects engineer- fundamental ultrafast phenomena. ing in 2-D materials. 7 Roser Valentí DIVISION OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS Institute of Theoretical Physics at Goethe Uni- Rebecca Surman versity University of Notre Dame For advancing microscopic understanding of corre- For contributions in elucidating r-process nucleosyn- lated materials by combining computational electronic thesis, in particular for connecting microphysics such structure methods with many-body techniques. as mass models and reaction rates to astrophysical environments, and for guiding the experimental efforts Laura Gagliardi worldwide on deciding the most impactful nuclei to University of Minnesota study at exotic nuclear beam facilities. For seminal contributions to the development of elec- tronic-structure methods and their application to the DIVISION OF PHYSICS OF BEAMS understanding of complex chemical systems, includ- ing the prediction of new materials and associated Michiko Minty properties. Brookhaven National Laboratory For achievements in beam instrumentation and op- erations leading to greatly enhanced perfomance of the DIVISION OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Mary Rodgers Wayne State University Evgenya Smirnova-Simakov For outstanding contributions to quantitative thermo- Los Alamos National Laboratory dynamic and structural characterization of noncova- For the development of photonic-band gap accelerat- lent cation-pi interactions, including the DNA i-motif ing structures. using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry and infrared multiple photon dissociation, and for exten- DIVISION OF PARTICLES AND FIELDS sive service to the community. Mina Aganagic DIVISION OF FLUID DYNAMICS University of California, Berkley For pioneering applications of string dualities to math- Andrea Bertozzi ematics, including the discoveries of the topological University of California, Los Angeles vertex and of refined Chern-Simons theory. For seminal work on thin film fluid analysis and mod- eling, contributions to the understanding of vorticity and incompressible flow, experimentation on particle Aaron Dominguez laden-free surface flow, and application of fluid mod- Catholic University els to biological and technological problems. For leading contributions to measurements of B hadron properties for top quark physics, and for the search and discovery of the Higgs boson, as well as leadership in Beverly McKeon the design, construction, and use of silicon tracking California Institute of Technology detectors at the Large Electron-Positron Collider, the For experimental and theoretical contributions to ad- Tevatron Collider, and the Large Hadron Collider. vancing the understanding of wall turbulence and for elegant interdisciplinary approaches to modeling and flow manipulation. Christine Davies University of Glasgow For innovations in lattice quantum chromodynamics DIVISION OF MATERIAL PHYSICS and their many applications to particle physics phe- Haiyan Wang nomenology. Texas A&M University For seminal contributions to optical spectroscopy of Kathryn Zurek novel low dimensional materials, including carbon Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory nanotubes, graphene, and transition metal dichal- For innovative contributions to particle phenomenol- coginides. ogy, especially in the development of models of asym- metric dark matter and hidden valley particles. Athena Sefat Oak Ridge National Laboratory DIVISION OF POLYMER PHYSICS For major contributions in developing new and pure iron-based superconducting crystals, and advancing Ricardo Ruiz the understanding of structure-composition-property Western Digital Corporation relations on multi-length scales in high temperature For outstanding contributions to the fundamental un- superconductors and antiferromagnets. derstanding of directed self-assembly of block copo- lymer films. 8 DIVISION OF PLASMA PHYSICS Agnes Mócsy Hui Chen Pratt Institute Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory For innovative explorations of the intersection of sci- For pioneering experimental research on relativistic ence and the arts, for advocacy on behalf of funda- positron generation using ultra-intense short-pulse mental science, and for promotion of underrepresented lasers. minorities working in science.

Jose Boedo FORUM ON PHYSICS AND SOCIETY University of California, San Diego Keivan Stassun For his ground-breaking contributions to the studies of Vanderbilt University plasma drifts and intermittent plasma transport in the For helping to substantially increase PhD attainment peripheral region of tokamaks. in physics and for underrepresented minori- ties, and for fundamental contributions to the astro- FORUM ON EDUCATION physics of young stars and brown dwarfs. Monica Plisch American Physical Society DIVISION OF GRAVITATIONAL PHYSICS For exceptional contributions to the physics commu- Eva Silverstein nity through the direction of the Physics Teacher Edu- Stanford University cation Coalition (PhysTEC) and involvement in other For fundamental contributions to quantum gravity and programs to increase the numbers of physics majors early universe cosmology. and teachers, and strengthen the inclusion of under- represented groups in Society activities. TOPICAL GROUP ON MAGNETISM AND ITS APPLICATIONS FORUM ON INDUSTRIAL & APPLIED PHYSICS Laura Heyderman Peide Ye Paul Scherrer Institute Purdue University For important contributions to the study of mesoscopic For contributions to scientific understanding and tech- magnetic systems, with the observation of monopole-like nical development of transistor technology on novel excitations, thermally active behavior, and phase transi- channel materials. tions in arrays of coupled frustrated magnets; and the control of magnetism at the nanoscale in hybrid systems. Christine Darve European Spallation Source Laura Lewis For sustained contribution to specification, design, Northeastern University construction, and operation of critical components of For investigations of fundamental structure-property superconducting linear accelerators, and for leader- relationships in functional magnetic materials from ship in expanding the reach of physics and educational a unified perspective, specifically for advancing- per outreach and dissemination of knowledge generated manent magnet, magnetic cooling, and biomedical through large scale science facilities around the world. applications.

FORUM ON OUTREACH & ENGAGING THE PUBLIC TOPICAL GROUP ON STATISTICAL & NONLINEAR Rebecca Thompson PHYSICS American Physical Society Raissa D’Souza For development of innovative physics outreach, en- University of California, Davis gagement, and informal education programs reaching For seminal contributions to the statistical physics of millions of children and adults every year, and out- complex systems, including self-organization in jam- standing leadership in US and international science ming phenomena and cascades, abrupt percolation outreach communities. transitions, and interdependence in network systems.

TM Physics Job Center Your top source for physics jobs careers.aps.org 9 Recent APS Women Physicists of the Month

SEPTEMBER 2016 WOMAN OF THE MONTH: OCTOBER 2016 WOMAN OF THE MONTH: Lindley Winslow Jedidah Isler University of California at Berkeley Vanderbilt University

indley Winslow is originally from Chadds Ford, r. Jedidah Isler is an award-winning astrophysicist LPA where she grew up riding horses. A love of Dand National Science Foundation Astronomy & outer space brought her to the University of Cali- Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow at Vanderbilt Uni- fornia at Berkeley and a great research experience versity, where she studies the physics of particle jets introduced her to particle astrophysics and her favorite emanating from supermassive black holes at the centers particle: the neutrino. She is an experimental nucle- of massive galaxies called blazars. Dr. Isler’s current ar physicist whose primary focus is on neutrinoless research uses simultaneous infrared, optical and gam- Lindley Winslow double-beta decay. Neutrinoless double-beta decay is ma-ray observations to better understand the physics an extremely rare nuclear process which, if it is ever of these blazar jets by constraining the time-resolved observed, would show that the neutrino is its own spectral variability. She has been recognized as a TED antiparticle, a Majorana particle. A Majorana neutrino Fellow (2015), National Geographic Emerging Explorer would have profound consequences to particle phys- (2016), and one of The Root’s 100 Most Influential ics and cosmology, among them an explanation of the African Americans (2016) for her innovative research universe’s matter-antimatter symmetry. Winslow takes and efforts to inspire a new generation of STEM lead- part in two projects that search for double-beta decay ers from underrepresented backgrounds. She is also the at CUORE (Cryogenic Underground Observatory for founder of #VanguardSTEM and host of the monthly Rare Events) and KamLAND-Zen, and works to de- web series “Vanguard: Conversations with Women of velop new, more sensitive double-beta decay detec- Color in STEM.” Dr. Isler has been an invited partici- tors. Winslow has also been awarded a 2010 L’Oréal pant in Astronomy Night at the White House, briefed the for Women in Science Fellowship. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Tech- nology, and has been featured in various publications. Jedidah Isler

NOVEMBER 2016 WOMAN OF THE MONTH: DECEMBER 2016 WOMAN OF THE MONTH: Chiara M. F. Mingarelli Chuhee Kwon Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy California State University Long Beach

r. Chiara M. F. Mingarelli is an Italo-Canadi- r. Chuhee Kwon is a Professor and past chair Dan gravitational-wave astrophysicist, currently Din the Department of Physics and Astronomy at based at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy California State University Long Beach. Her research (previously Caltech), where she holds a Marie Curie specialty is condensed matter experiment, and she has Fellowship. She has made significant and novel con- over 90 peer-reviewed publications in superconducting tributions to the field of detection and magnetic thin films. As a P.I. and co-P.I., Dr. Kwon with pulsar timing arrays within the International Pul- has received over $2.4 million in external grants, half sar Timing Array community. Her thesis research con- of which was for outreach and diversity-enhancing Chiara M. F. Mingarelli tinues to inspire young researchers to explore a new programs, including PhysTEC (Physics Teacher Ed- branch of NANOGrav science (sky anisotropy of the ucation Coalition), NSF S-STEM, and APS Bridge gravitational wave background) and she has placed the programs. Under her leadership, the Department has most stringent constraints on primordial gravitational more than tripled the number of undergraduate majors, waves, among other contributions. Mingarelli serves eliminated the achievement gap in gender/ethnicity, as a willing and dedicated mentor to many students and graduated 43 bachelors and 16 masters with 50% at Caltech, and works with graduate students whose underrepresented minorities in AY 2015 – 16. The careers she identified would benefit from external col- Department received the 2016 Award for Improving laboration. She maintains an active Twitter feed, which Undergraduate Education from the American Physics she uses to communicate research and sociological Society. Dr. Kwon received the 2010 Advancement issues in science to over 3,000 followers. These ef- of Women Award from the President’s Commission forts caught the attention of Amy Poehler’s Smart on the Status of Women, as well as the 2013 Faculty Girls, who invited Mingarelli to write an invited blog Award for Excellence by the College of Natural Sci- series, “Conversations with a Theoretical Astrophysi- ences and Mathematics at CSULB. cist.” Her social media science outreach also granted Chuhee Kwon her an invitation to submit an op-ed article to Scientific American. 10 JANUARY 2017 WOMAN OF THE MONTH: ments of airborne contaminants in turbulent environ- ments, dramatically increasing observation periods Laura Sinclair from hours to weeks. Recently, she was the technical National Institute of Standards and lead of a team that was able to synchronize clocks over Technology kilometers of turbulent air to within femtoseconds. Leading publications including , the Proceed- r. Laura Sinclair is a physicist in the Applied ings of the National Academy of Sciences, and the DPhysics Division at the National Institute of Stan- American Physical Society’s Viewpoint have recog- dards and Technology (NIST). She is recognized for nized the importance of her work through editorial pioneering new robust optical tools based on fiber commentaries. When not wrangling optics equipment, frequency combs that operate outside well-controlled Dr. Sinclair organizes a monthly “Awesome Women laboratory environments. Dr. Sinclair’s internationally in Science” coffee hour to connect technical women acclaimed comb research has been applied to time across the NIST Boulder campus. Since 2008, she has Laura Sinclair transfer across large distances and precision measure- served with the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.

Meet the 2017 COM and CSWP Chairs and New Committee Members

New CSWP Chair and CSWP Members Kristen M. Burson Hamilton College Patricia Rankin I am a condensed matter experimentalist and an assistant professor in the physics department at Hamil- University of Colorado Boulder ton College. Through my previous involvements with 2017 CSWP Chair Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics I agreed to serve on the Committee on the Status (CUWiP), the women in physics group at the Univer- of Women in Physics (CSWP) because I wanted to sity of Maryland, and public outreach events aimed at help ensure that we recruit and retain the best and female students, I have come to appreciate the role that brightest, and that everyone feels welcome and sup- local action can play in promoting and encouraging ported. What I like about serving on this committee women in physics. I am excited to think about these Patricia Rankin is that it gets things done. One of the reasons for this CSWP Chair issues more broadly as part of the Committee on the is that the committee operates under a set of guiding Status of Women in Physics. I am especially interested principles and I will continue to follow these as chair. in ways to best support students at the undergraduate In particular, I want to focus on ways to emphasize that and graduate levels, as well as early career physicists. all physicists should follow the professional practices CSWP is already working in these areas through wom- of our field and to further develop suggested best prac- en in physics group grants, the site visits program, the tices that improve the working environment for all. CUWiP conference series, and guides for best prac- tices for departments. I am looking forward to playing Miriam Deutsch an active role in supporting women in physics through University of Oregon these ongoing efforts. During my years of working at the University of Oregon, I have dedicated numerous efforts towards New COM Chair and COM Members working with academic leadership to highlight the Miriam Deutsch need for targeted programs for training, hiring and retaining female graduate students and faculty in the Edmundo J. Garcia-Solis STEM fields. I now wish to use the experiences and Chicago State Univ/ NSF knowledge I gained in the past years to work more 2017 COM Chair collaboratively towards this goal on a national level. I am persuaded of the value of basic research for our society. I also believe in the significance of diver- Laura McCullough sity, not only as a resource in science, but as one of University of Wisconsin Stout the major engines that propel the advancement of our I’ve been doing research on gender and science nation. I am a firm proposer of the equality of oppor- issues for over twenty years, and my goal has always tunities based on education. I am serving on the Com- been to improve the participation rates of women in mittee on Minorities in Physics because it is the ideal physics. I am very excited to be on this committee, and platform from where I can combine my professional I hope that my research background and organizational and life experience to undertake actions that align with skills will be a benefit to CSWP in their endeavors to my beliefs. Laura McCullough promote women’s presence in physics. It’s a goal we all need to work on! 11 Ivy Krystal Jones Physics. I am deeply honored to know that my fellow LLNL APS colleagues felt me worthy of such an important My reasons for wanting to serve on the APS Com- responsibility. In filling this position, I understand that mittee on Minorities in physics are varied and meet the organization is committed to increasing the recruit- many of my needs such as a desire to give back to the ment and retention of minorities in physics. Having community that supported me, and a need to effect participated in several programs to promote diversity change. In no particular order, here are my specific at both the campus-wide and nation-wide levels, it is reasons for getting involved: my desire to collaborate on similar projects to incor- 1. I relish the opportunity to serve APS in a porate infrastructures that will ultimately increase the higher capacity. number of underrepresented minorities in the field. 2. To learn more about organizational manage- Furthermore, it has been a national priority to promote ment skills while promoting the Society’s STEM education as well as to support, contribute Kristen M. Burson vision/mission. to, and advance the career development of the next 3. To fellowship as well as network with an generation of scientists and minority physicists. Since inclusive and diverse group of individuals science has been at the forefront of shaping culture, dedicated to service within the different I look forward to promoting and contributing to this committees. narrative. 4. Support the committees by providing ser- vices which will assist in accomplishing set Carol Scarlett goals. Florida A&M University 5. Utilize experience to improve on certain I have joined the Committee on Minorities (COM) professional development skills such as to improve the numbers of minority students entering organization, communication, dissemination Physics and other STEM programs. I believe science is of information, etc. the gateway to numerous careers and has a tremendous Edmundo J. Garcia-Solis impact on human society. I want to see the diversity in COM Chair Garfield Warren the US population reflected in our scientific popula- Indiana University tion. Beyond the impact that is brought by a diversity It is with great pleasure that I am writing this let- of people and ideas, having all Americans participate is ter to serve on the APS Committee on Minorities in a hallmark of inclusion in the larger society.

Ivy Krystal Jones

Garfield Warren

Carol Scarlett American Physical Society One Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740-3844

M. Hildred Blewett Fellowship continued from page 1 on the potential to detect the late-time radio afterglow continue doing research until I successfully landed a signal of gamma-ray bursts, with the goal of learn- tenure-track faculty position during the term of the fel- ing about the progenitor and its environment. I have lowship. Even beyond the financial consideration, the begun (with a small team of astrophysicists from Los fellowship gave me hope to continue pursuing my re- Alamos) teaching a community education class on search career. It was a great psychological boost, being modern astrophysics at the Los Alamos campus of the recognized for my work by the committee and know- University of New Mexico. I also continue to make ing they thought I had a good chance to succeed, when frequent visits to elementary schools to do hands-on I had almost given up myself. My article in a previous physics activities with young scientists. The Blewett Gazette also brought me a lot of community support, Fellowship was the perfect way to transition back to including some who assisted with travel funds so I work after my time away from astrophysics — it is not could attend international workshops. For those who Nicole Lloyd-Ronning an overstatement to say I couldn’t have done it without made a similar choice as I did, I hope they know that this fellowship! It allowed me the flexibility to pursue they are not alone; there are people who have made it my research and outreach goals (not to mention an from similar situations, and they should not be afraid important morale boost), that truly made all the dif- to ask for help. I would not be where I am if it were ference in returning to work after such a long absence. not for the support of the fellowship and many helping hands in the field. I am grateful for the generosity of Huey-Wen Lin everyone who funds the fellowship. I will certainly, in I am currently an assistant professor jointly in return do what I can in the future to help those in need. the Departments of Physics and Astronomy and Com- putational Mathematics, Science and Engineering at Monique Tirion Michigan State University. My research focuses on After a 10 year hiatus from theoretical research using high-performance supercomputers to calculate into the unique flexibility characteristics of folded Huey-Wen Lin the femtoscale physics where the strong nuclear in- proteins, my curiosity persisted but my confidence in teraction dominates and quarks and gluons are the re-igniting a research program waned. The Blewett fundamental particles. I have been providing Stan- Fellowship, unique in assisting qualified women tran- dard-Model strong-interaction inputs to search for new sitioning back to active research in physics, provided physics at the LHC and also in precision symmetry a concrete and complete platform: a specific context tests at lower energy using neutrons. The M. Hildred to articulate a vision and assess advances and devel- Blewett Fellowship was absolutely essential to me opments; a means to join a research department and when I needed help the most: when I had to choose the opportunity to discuss ideas and reconnect with family (with 2 young children and a spouse searching colleagues. Completing and submitting the application for his own career after moving around the country felt good and provided the credibility to persist. I am with me for almost a decade) over my dream career grateful to Prof. Hildred Blewett and APS for provid- in academia. Thanks to the fellowship, I was able to ing this opportunity n Monique Tirion

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