Black students are being excluded from the explosive growth in physics degrees through both hidden and open barriers. (Over the past 10 years, less than 4% of physics bachelor’s degrees have been awarded to African Americans, according to AIP statistics.)

The larger physics community has a significant opportunity to increase the participation of persons of the African diaspora in the discipline by lowering barriers for interactions with communities within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI).

In this second joint physics society webinar (view the previous webinar), panelists will highlight examples of successful partnerships that have a record of involving the 21 HBCU, 23 PBI, and four HBCU-PhD US institutions in creating effective bridges and taking a holistic view of building a unified physics community.

After attending, webinar attendees will take away a better understanding of:

1. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues as pertaining specifically to African Americans and students of the African Diaspora in physics.
2. Key hallmarks from existing partnerships between R1 institutions and HBCUs and PBIs that can be replicated.
3. New strategies to effectively partner with HBCUs, MSIs, and PBIs for interdisciplinary careers in physics and physics-related fields.
4. Effective student-centered activities that lead to an increase in Black students entering STEM graduate programs.
5. Faculty-centered activities that may lead to an increase in Black students entering STEM graduate programs.

The panel and Q&A will be recorded, so please register even if you cannot attend live and you will receive a link to the recording. The webinar will be hosted by APS CEO Dr. Kate Kirby.