In Search of Equity: Additional Resources

Here are some resources on issues of Black representation in physics and engineering in the United States.

Reports and Data

TEAM-UP Project (American Institute of Physics): The report of the AIP’s National Task Force to Elevate African American Representation in Undergraduate Physics & Astronomy (TEAM-UP) documents a two-year investigation of “the reasons for the persistent underrepresentation of African Americans in physics and astronomy.”
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (U.S. National Science Foundation): The NSF statistical branch offers a wealth of data on representation by race, ethnicity and gender, as well as a detailed biennial report on the participation of women, minorities and persons with disabilities in science and engineering.

National Society for Black Physicists: Nonprofit with the mission to promote the professional well-being of African American physicists and physics students within the international scientific community and within society at large.
National Society of Black Engineers: Nonprofit organization founded “to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.”

The Diversity–Innovation Paradox in Science [B. Hofstra et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 117, 9284 (2020)]: Recent analysis of three decades of Ph.D. recipients found that “demographically underrepresented students innovate at higher rates than majority students, but their novel contributions are discounted and less likely to earn them academic positions.”
How Gender and Race Stereotypes Impact the Advancement of Scholars in STEM [A.A. Eaton et al., Sex Roles 82, 127 (2020)]: Study highlighting biases in hiring candidates for postdoctoral research positions in biology and physics.

African American Women in Physics: Online community founded by Jami Valentine Miller that seeks to track and highlight African American women in physics and STEM.
Particles for Justice: Group of scientists that spearheaded the 10 June #StrikeForBlackLives and #ShutDownSTEM/#ShutDownAcademia actions; the group maintains an extensive list of resources.
Twitter Conversations: Black scientists share their experience in academia via a number of hashtags, including #BlackInTheIvory and #BlackInSTEM.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Overview of OSA programs focused on improving diversity and inclusion in optics and photonics.
DEI Rapid Action Committee (RAC): A place to follow activities of OSA Board-appointed committee tasked with recommending concrete measures “to support and increase the presence of Black scientists and engineers within OSA and the broader optics and photonics community.”
Commit to Change: Page providing “resources to aid all of us in the fight to dismantle systemic racism.”