Spectra Science

Read more to learn about the studies and literature on the experience of underrepresented students in physics. 

Physics and Math Help: Beyond the F = ma

  • The difficulty of physics classes reaches beyond the material and is heavily influenced by other forces (RE: gender, low income backgrounds, race, LGBTQ+ identity, etc)
  • Know the science behind the science! You are not alone! Read below for some articles and studies.
  • Not everyone knows as much as they might pretend to – if you’re feeling like you’re falling behind the rest of your class, know that most people in the class have felt like that at some point. Talk to your prof or mentor!

    Bibliography (ongoing list)

    “A Movement to Close the Gender Gap in Mathematics”, Siobhan Roberts. Quanta Magazine. January 22, 2019. https://www.quantamagazine.org/carolina-araujo-is-building-a-network-of-women-in-mathematics-20190122/

    “It's Unscientific To Credit 'Inherent Differences' For Underrepresentation In Science”, Ethan Siegel. Forbes. Dec. 12, 2018. https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2018/12/12/its-unscientific-to-credit-inherent-differences-for-underrepresentation-in-science/#666fc83fe733

    “Pipelines and Pathways: Women of Color in Undergraduate STEM Majors and the College Experiences That Contribute to Persistence”, https://www.hepgjournals.org/doi/abs/10.17763/haer.81.2.92315ww157656k3u

    “Retaining Students in STEM Majors”, Jessica Watkins and Eric Mazur. June 2013. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43631580?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents

    “Striving Toward a Space for Equity and Inclusion in Physics Classrooms”, Kerstin Perez. Haverford College. Spring 2016. https://repository.brynmawr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kerstinperez.com%2Feducation-and-outreach%2F&httpsredir=1&article=1145&context=tlthe

    “Two Brief Interventions to Mitigate a “Chilly Climate” Transform Women’s Experience, Relationships, and Achievement in Engineering”, Walton et al., https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/2/43662/files/2017/02/468-12v4agv.pdf

    “Why Are There Still So Few Women in Science”, Eileen Pollack. NYTimes. Oct. 3, 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/magazine/why-are-there-still-so-few-women-in-science.html