Diversity within CISM

1. Diversity within CISM Ramon Lopez and the CISM Team

2. The need for increased diversity • To maintain a healthy community, we must draw more from populations that historically have not pursued careers in science • For example, in 1998, about 55% of all bachelors degrees awarded in the U.S. were earned by women • The U.S. Department of Education projects that this trend will continue to grow and that women will represent 58% of the bachelors class of 2010.

3. The need for increased diversity • While total enrollments are going up, a disproportionate fraction of that growth comes from groups that traditionally do not follow scientific careers Source:Digest of Education Statistics, NCES-2001-034, National Center for Education Statistics, 2001.

4. Diversity in Physics • In 1997 African Americans earned only 5% of Bachelor’s degrees and 1% of Ph.D. degrees (and only 0.5% in Earth and Space Sciences). The numbers for Hispanics were 2% and 1%, respectively • AGU/SPA has 3100 members • Anecdotally, there are about a dozen Hispanic Space Physicists in the US community and only a handful of African Americans

5. GenderDistribution Physics is at the bottom of the barrel Even below Engineering

6. Gender in Earth and Space Sciences (AGU study)

7. CISM: A Diverse Enterprise • CISM Executive Committee is more diverse that the field as a whole - two women, one Hispanic, out of 8 members • CISM leadership includes individuals well known for their commitment to improving diversity in science • CISM Institutions are diverse, include public and private universities, government labs, private industry, and minority serving universities

8. CISM Demographics

9. Current CISM Demographics • CISM as a whole is about 21% female - much better than Physics as a whole • Of the 12 US undergraduates, 9 (75%) are female and/or minority. (There are 3 non-US undergraduates.) • Of the 12 US graduate students, 4 (25%) are female and/or minority. (There are 9 non-US graduate students.)

10. CISM Strategy for Diversity • Undergraduate research program will target the recruitment of Women, Hispanics, and African Americans, with a target of 30% participation (currently met) • Teacher intern program expanded to include 2-yr college faculty to build relationships, disseminate undergraduate teaching materials, and excite students about space science • New MS program at AAMU to be supported by CISM helping to establish a long-term space physics presence • Outreach/recruitment of students at NCBPS and SACNAS annual meeting

11. New Graduate Concentration in Space Physics at AA&MU • Alabama A&M University is an HBU with a strong record of producing African-American Physicists • In 2000 AAMU obtained NASA funding under the Minority University Initiative to support an undergraduate concentration in Space Science • There is a strong interest at AAMU in expanding a research capability in Space Science

12. New Graduate Concentration in Space Physics at AA&MU • CISM is working with AAMU to support the introduction of a new MS concentration • Paperwork will be prepared this summer; creation of new program by next year • CISM resources, like Summer School, joint mentoring of student research via Access Grid, etc., are key supports • CISM will reallocate funding identified from the Education budget to partially support a new Space Physics faculty line; AAMU will provide the other half of the funding • This new program will be a significant CISM legacy providing a new and lasting pathway for African-Americans to enter Space Physics.

13. Conclusions • CISM has a strong commitment to diversity, as illustrated by the makeup of the Executive Committee and core institutions • Because of the very small numbers in the field, just bringing a few Hispanic or African-American students into the space physics will have a large impact