US Delegation to the 7th International Conference on Women in Physics

By Beth Cunningham

ICWIP 2017 Group Photo
Copyright Liz Hingley, IoP and University of Birmingham

Every three years, starting in 2002, the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics has sponsored a global conference for women physicists and astronomers. About 200 women and their male allies from approximately 60 countries gather to talk about their success stories and continuing challenges in advancing the careers of women in physics and astronomy. Attendees must be part of a country delegation in order to participate. The conference includes plenary sessions with world-renowned women physicists and astronomers, breakout sessions on special topics such as education and improving the workplace, poster sessions to highlight activities supporting women in each country and for attendees to showcase their own work, and multiple opportunities for networking and building collaborations and alliances. The seventh International Conference on Women in Physics (ICWIP 2020), will be held in Melbourne, Australia, from July 13 through July 17, 2020. The proceedings of all the previous ICWIPs are freely available.

The U.S. Delegation has already started preparation for attending ICWIP 2020. Three women have been chosen to lead the U.S. Delegation:

• Jessica Esquivel, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
• Laura McCullough, University of Wisconsin - Stout
• Sherry Yennello, Texas A&M University

The Team Leaders recognize that physics needs diversity both in the practitioners of the science and in the voices that communicate that science to broader communities. It is important to see women in physics as experts in their field. The Team Leaders have decided that the overarching goal for the US Delegation is empowering diverse voices through science communication. The activities that support this goal will be woven around ICWIP 2020. The U.S. Team Leaders have submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation to support the U.S. delegation to attend the ICWIP and the associated activities to provide under-represented groups in physics with the skills they need to communicate their science to a broad set of audiences.

The application process is now open for the U.S. Delegation team to the 7th IUPAP International Conference on Women in Physics. The 7th IUPAP Conference on Women in Physics will be held July 13 - 17, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. The US will be sending a small delegation to the conference. Applications to become a member of the US Delegation are due by October 18, 2019. To apply to be part of the US delegation, go to the U.S. Delegation website.

Beth Cunningham is Executive Officer of the American Association of Physics Teachers. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Arts degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Kent State University. In 1989, she joined the physics department at Bucknell University as an assistant professor, attaining full professor in 2002. She was named associate dean of the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences in 2000. In 2006, she was appointed as Provost, Dean of Faculty, and Professor of Physics at Illinois Wesleyan University. At AAPT since 2011, Beth provides leadership on a number of physics education initiatives including faculty and K-12 teacher professional development and diversity, equity, and inclusion in physics education.