Committee on Minorities in Physics

The Committee on Minorities in Physics (COM) provides guidance for and actively participates in APS activities related to the goals of production, retention, and career development of physicists who come from communities that are from historically marginalized and/or underrepresented backgrounds in Physics, and other APS efforts related to these goals. The COM also provides advice to APS staff and the APS Council and the members both participate in activities and lead activities related to these topics.

The membership of COM includes nine (9) members nominated by the Committee on Council Committees (CCC) and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three (3) year terms. The committee also includes one (1) or two (2) members representing the Forum on Diversity and Inclusion (FDI) executive committee. The Forum representatives are recommended by the Chair of the Forum, in consultation with the executive committee of the Forum, and they are appointed by the President-Elect as voting members to staggered three (3) year terms.

The President-Elect appoints the Vice Chair, after consulting with the current committee members. The Vice Chair serves a one (1) year term, followed subsequently by a one (1) year term as Chair, and then a one (1) year term as Past Chair. The Vice Chair’s committee membership term is automatically extended to cover their service in the Chair line.

The COM is a Council Committee.