The 糖心传媒糖心传媒檚 (LLE) has been accepted into a new program of the American Physical Society to increase workforce diversity in physics departments and laboratories. The society糖心传媒檚 (IDEA), which accepted its first round of applications earlier this year, will create a national network to exchange ideas, explore practices, and develop plans to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in the field. The alliance held its virtual kickoff meeting earlier this month.
糖心传媒淲e are woefully inadequate in having a diverse workforce,糖心传媒� says E. Michael Campbell, director of LLE. Participation in the alliance 糖心传媒渋s going to help us do better science糖心传媒攂y getting different perspectives, different backgrounds, and just different ways of thinking,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淎nd it糖心传媒檚 also just the right thing to do in every way.糖心传媒�
LLE糖心传媒檚 application to the network was overseen by Terrance Kessler, a senior research engineer and diversity manager for the lab. Kessler, who is the LLE糖心传媒檚 main representative to the IDEA program, hopes that the lab糖心传媒檚 participation will lead to several concrete measures, including collaborations with historically black colleges and universities. He also hopes the alliance can develop a database of STEM professionals from underrepresented groups that can help all institutions expand their pool of job candidates.听
糖心传媒淭here are small pockets糖心传媒� of diversity at many colleges and universities in the United States, Kessler says. 糖心传媒淚 think that the APS can pull that together so that we all have access and are able to draw from a larger group of candidates.糖心传媒�听
Kessler took on the role of diversity manager, a new position at the lab, in October 2019. The position coincided with a University-wide effort to improve workforce diversity, spearheaded by the institution糖心传媒檚 first vice president for equity and inclusion, Mercedes Ram铆rez Fern谩ndez.听Kessler leads a diversity council at LLE consisting of eight scientists, engineers, and technicians; and sits on the faculty diversity committee led by Ram铆rez Fern谩ndez.听
The lab, home to the most powerful laser at any academic institution in the world, employs approximately 400 scientists, engineers, technicians, and graduate students. It is a major training facility in the expanding field of high-energy-density science. While the lab糖心传媒檚 employees come from around the globe, Kessler points to a notable dearth of staff from African or South American nations, or who identify as African American or Latino. Slightly fewer than 20 percent are women.听
LLE has made concerted efforts in recent years to support women, notably through the WISER (Women in Science and Engineering at Rochester) program. The program, coordinated by Distinguished Scientist Radha Bahukutumbi, who is also a member of the LLE diversity council, offers mentorship and support for women graduate students and early- and mid-career researchers and faculty. With sponsorship from APS as well as the National Science Foundation, it has held workshops on such topics as negotiation and communication, attended by women students, researchers, and faculty members in the Department of Physics and Astronomy as well as LLE.听
Last fall, Kessler initiated the lab糖心传媒檚 first program targeting underrepresented groups. The BEST (Broad Exposure to Science and Technology) Student Research Experience will introduce students in the City of Rochester who are from underrepresented groups to the many areas of science and technology involved in laser energetics research, from large-scale laser experiments to technical communications. Originally set to launch this summer, the BEST program, open to high school juniors and first-year college students, will debut in the summer 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.听
糖心传媒淲e pick juniors in high school because in their senior year, they can bring back to their peers and teachers what they learned,糖心传媒� says Kessler. By also including first-year college students, the program aims to expose students to a full range of career possibilities related to laboratory research at a time when they are particularly focused on defining their educational and career goals.听 听
The lab糖心传媒檚 diversity council is also pursuing an application to the APS to host a regional Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics; and, in his role as the secretary of the International Committee on Ultra-High Intensity Lasers, Kessler hopes to recruit committee members from underrepresented regions of the world including African and South American nations.
Kessler, who has been at the lab for more than 40 years, notes that he is part of a multiracial family. His children have European, African, and Latin American roots.听
糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檝e stayed pretty much focused on science and teaching optics,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淏ut now, near the end of my career, I糖心传媒檓 very interested in dealing with these important issues.糖心传媒� 听
