message from Climate and Diversity committee

[Gupta, Jay]

Dear Department Community,



We are writing to acknowledge that many of us are upset by recent events, which again highlight the systemic and violent anti-Black racism in our society. We'd like to echo messages from our Chair and Dean by emphasizing a few opportunities for local action within our Department. These ongoing activities provide everyone an opportunity to make meaningful change through a sustained and sustainable effort.



First, our POLARIS <https://physics.osu.edu/Polaris> program continues to grow, with an aim toward improving mentorship of marginalized students within our undergraduate program. The successes of this program so far rest on the committed participation from undergraduate and graduate students, and is a priority of the Department.



Secondly, we'd like to announce that a team of OSU faculty, staff, undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs was accepted into the American Physical Society's Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Alliance (IDEA<https://www.aps.org/programs/innovation/fund/idea.cfm>). This program is focused on fostering a nationwide dialogue and sharing of best practices, and will be starting up right away with a first workshop on Friday June 12th.



Lastly, anyone is welcome to engage with the faculty, students or staff in our Climate and Diversity Committee<https://physics.osu.edu/climate-and-diversity-committee>, which plays a unique role in our Department.



These are just a few of the ways to get involved. The Department will shortly announce plans for a town-hall style meeting as a next step to help us process and locally translate this national call for action to OSU Physics. Also, please note that the OSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion will be hosting a university-wide town hall <https://odi.osu.edu/role-land-grant-university-addressing-racial-tensions?utm_source=College+of+Arts+and+Sciences&utm_campaign=fee1e7390a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_04_05_05_38_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_112a361dc0-fee1e7390a-322755865> on Monday at 3:00.



In the meantime, we'd like to point out the American Institute of Physics' TEAM-UP report<https://www.aip.org/diversity-initiatives/team-up-task-force>, which provides a wealth of useful information and action items that will be great to discuss as a group.



Take care,



C&D Committee



Ralf Bundschuh<mailto:bundschuh.2 at osu.edu>
Linda Carpenter<mailto:carpenter.690 at osu.edu>
Chandrodoy Chattopadhyay
Lauren Ennesser<https://physics.osu.edu/ennesser.1@osu.edu>

Katie Ferrell

Liz Fuller

Jay Gupta<mailto:gupta.208 at osu.edu> (Chair)

Chris Hill<mailto:hill.1369 at osu.edu>
Klaus Honscheid<mailto:honscheid.1 at osu.edu>
Roland Kawakami<mailto:kawakami.15 at osu.edu>
Ruth Leonard<mailto:leonard.469 at osu.edu>
Caitlin Patterson
Daram Ramdin<mailto:ramdin.3 at osu.edu>


Jay Gupta
Associate Professor of Physics
Ohio State University
2056 Physics Research Building
191 W. Woodruff Ave
Columbus OH 43210
ph: 614 247 8457
web: https://u.osu.edu/guptagroup/

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