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IGC grad Rachael Huxford writes about the “I am STEM” winners

2023-03-21

IGC grad student Rachael Huxford, a science communication intern for the Eberly College of Science, conducted an interview with two 'I AM STEM' winners. The I AM STEM speaking contest was designed to help Penn State's Eberly College of Science students develop and share stories of their science journey. Winners of the contest have been keynote speakers at the college’s annual ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women event where they have been able to inspire other burgeoning STEM minds. Other contest objectives include developing science communication abilities and identifying and showcasing Eberly College of Science students with inspiring, authentic STEM stories. Additional fall 2022 participants included Eberly College of Science undergraduate students Basma AlMahmood, Ariella Biney, and Emma Khoury, and the IGC's own graduate student Unnati Akhouri.

Three Penn State researchers awarded scientific grants from Kaufman Foundation

2023-02-09

The Charles E. Kaufman Foundation—a supporting organization of The Pittsburgh Foundation, which works to improve the quality of life in the Pittsburgh region—has selected three researchers from the Eberly College of Science to receive research grants this year. The foundation awards grants to scientists at institutes of higher learning in Pennsylvania who are pursuing research that explores essential questions in biology, physics, and chemistry, or that crosses disciplinary boundaries. Ashley Villar, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics and co-hire of the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences at Penn State, was selected to receive a New Investigator grant for her project titled “Unveiling the Final Days of Stellar Life Through Exotic Explosions.” New Investigator grants empower scientists at the beginning of their careers who seek to make a mark in their fields and address core principles in biology, physics, and chemistry or across the disciplinary boundaries of these field. Villar will study a rare type of supernova—the explosive death of a star—called a Type IIn supernova. Prior to these rare supernovae, the star produces a “death throe” for months to years before its ultimate explosion, ejecting a considerable amount of material that then surrounds the star and that becomes shock heated during the supernova. Villar will combine techniques from high energy physics, machine learning, and statistics to analyze these events and improve our understanding of why only some stars experience this phenomenon.


APS-IDEA
The Penn State Physics department is a member of the APS Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (APS-IDEA). APS-IDEA is a new initiative with a mission of empowering and supporting physics departments, laboratories, and other organizations to identify and enact strategies for improving equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). It will do so by establishing a community of transformation.
Conference for Undergrad Women in Physics
The goal of APS CUWiP is to help undergraduate women continue in physics by providing them with the opportunity to experience a professional conference, information about graduate school and professions in physics, and access to other women in physics of all ages with whom they can share experiences, advice, and ideas. The national and local organizing committees of APS CUWiP strive to create a welcoming environment for all, including undergraduate women and gender minorities. Learn more at: https://sites.psu.edu/cuwip2023/
Physics and Astronomy for Women+
PAW+ (Physics and Astronomy for Women+) is a club of undergraduates, grad students, and post-docs dedicated to advancing the status of women, gender minorities, and underrepresented groups in Physics and Astronomy by providing a network of support and a forum to discuss systemic bias in these fields. Anyone is welcome to join us for social events, professional development opportunities, outreach activities, and more!
Rainbow Science Network
The Rainbow Science Network is a list of research groups committed to maintaining an inclusive environment, where faculty members have received training in LGBTQ+ issues.




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