About Us

Women in Physics (WiP) at Michigan Technological University (MTU) is an active, student-led organization that seeks to make our campus an inclusive environment while breaking down barriers that hold students back in their academic pursuits. We provide two scholarships, host three guest speakers per year, and organize multiple free, campus-wide workshops and tutorials every semester. The guiding principle behind all of our activities is that there should not be unnecessary obstacles between students and the academic tools and information needed for their success. We strive to create a safe space for an open dialogue around what a scientific career looks like for communities that have historically been marginalized in those careers.

The Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics is a great way to break down these barriers for undergraduates who are interested in pursuing a career in physics. Attendees to our host site will feel welcomed as they are, with safe spaces to discuss their struggles and questions surrounding being a scientist. They will also get the chance to hear from experts in various fields and the cutting-edge research that is being conducted. Multiple panels will be available to discuss what life is like as one progresses through academia, as well as the cultural biases and research expectations. 

WiP at MTU believes that early professional development is essential for budding scientists. To help the attendees build their skills, there will be a poster session that they can use to communicate their research with fellow peers. There will also be two workshops available, a python workshop for inquiring theorists and a nanotube workshop for inquiring experimentalists. During the poster session, a career fair will be held to allow the participants to network and see available options.

Michigan Technological University is committed to a diverse and inclusive community of and for scholars that is conducive to excellent teaching, innovative research, and the personal and intellectual growth of its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. This commitment is based upon the mutual and respectful exchange of our perspectives, personal experiences, and ideas that
enhance the quality of our learning, interactions and world view.

Diversity encompasses the differences that we each bring with us through our individual backgrounds, which include race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, genetic information, socioeconomic class, marital status, disability and veteran status.

Equity and inclusion encompass overcoming obstacles to access along with the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity in our various communities (intellectual, social, and cultural) to increase one’s awareness, knowledge, and emphatic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact. The principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion must
work together to facilitate full engagement in University life.

Michigan Technological University strives to build upon this keystone of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a foundational piece of our university. We challenge the members of our community to engage differences as strengths in order to continuously improve campus culture and to develop an exceptional and diverse community that ensures equality of access,
opportunity, participation and representation for all.