Diversity Journal Club

Diversity Journal Club (DJC) is typically held every two weeks (fortnightly) on Thursdays at 12:30 PM. Come in-person in McPherson 4054 or join online via CarmenZoom.

DJC is a space to discuss current social issues in relation to Astronomy, Physics, and STEM as a whole in academia and beyond. The goal of DJC is to educate members of the department on topics related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We define work on DEI as an effort to advance the fair treatment and full participation of all individuals, with a special emphasis on groups that have been historically underrepresented or discriminated against on the basis of identity or disability. Topics typically focus on data on underrepresentation and best practices to improve recruiting and retention at Ohio State and in the field of astronomy.

DJC can take on a variety of formats that include discussions, presentations, and reading ahead of a larger discussion. Anyone affiliated with the Astronomy Department is welcome to attend. If you would like to lead a discussion or suggest a topic, please contact the department's DEI committee. 

Schedule

Previous Semesters

Sept 14 - Welcome 

Sept 28 - TEAM-UP

Oct 5 - TEAM-UP, continued

Oct 19 - Wayne Schlingman (OSU) - Outreach opportunities

Nov 2 - Paul Martini (OSU) - Lessons for Diversity and Inclusion from Google's Project Aristotle

Nov 16 - Paarmita Pandey, Joy Bhattacharyya & Jennifer Rodriguez (OSU) - The Cost of Being a Non-Native English Speaker in Science

Nov 30 - Prof. David Weinberg - Academic Career Stages and Work/Life Balance

Jan 12 - No Meeting (AAS) 

Jan 26 - Caitlin O'Brien (OSU)

  • SciAccess

Feb 9 - DEI Strategic Planning

Feb 23 - DEI Strategic Planning, continued (Note: start at 1pm)

Mar 9 - Becca McClain (OSU) - Equity in Graduate Admissions

Mar 23 - Climate Survey Planning

Apr 6 - Deb Pathak, Kaz Gary, and Karina Barboza (OSU) - Socio-economic barriers to higher education

Apr 20 - Rachel Patton (OSU) - The Status of Early-Career Parents in STEM

Sept 1 - Paul Martini (OSU) - Undergraduate Major Survey

  • Summary of Results from Spring 2022
  • Discussion

Sept 15 - Cancelled

Sept 29 - Paul Martini (OSU) - AIP TEAM-UP

Oct 13 - Sera Markoff (Amsterdam) - DEI Discussion

Oct 27 - Presentation by OSU Counseling and Consultation Service 

Nov 10 - Don Terndrup (OSU) - Active Learning

  • Ralph et al. (2022), Separated by spaces: Undergraduate students re-sort along attitude divides when choosing whether to learn in spaces designed for active learning (article link)

Nov 24 - No Meeting - Thanksgiving

Dec 8 - Elvira Cruz-Cruz and Ari Bredall (OSU) 

  • Dancy and Hodari (2022), How well-intentioned white male physicists maintain ignorance of inequity and justify inaction (article link)

July 7 - Don Terndrup (OSU) - Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE)

July 21 - Jennifer Johnson (OSU) - Discussion of the impact of gender on student evaluations of instructors

  • Boring et al. 2016, "Student evaluations of teaching (mostly) do not measure teaching effectiveness"
  • Sigudardottir et al. 2022, "Student evaluation of teaching: gender bias in a country at the forefront of gender equality"

Aug 4 - David Martin (OSU) - The Uses and Misuses of the GRE

Aug 16 - Caprice Phillips (OSU) - Discussion of representation and blackness

June 10 - DJC Book Club - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

This DJC will be a "book club" event, and we will discuss the Introduction and Chapters 1-2 this week and consider the questions from the reading guide. 

June 17 - DJC Book Club - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

This DJC will be a "book club" event, and we will discuss the Chapters 3-4 this week and consider the questions from the reading guide. 

June 24 - DJC Book Club - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

This DJC will be a "book club" event, and we will discuss the Chapters 5-6 this week and consider the questions from the reading guide. 

July 1 - DJC Book Club - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

This DJC will be a "book club" event, and we will discuss the Chapters 7-9 this week and consider the questions from the reading guide. 

July 8 - DJC Book Club - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

This DJC will be a "book club" event, and we will discuss the Chapters 10-12 this week and consider the questions from the reading guide. 

Sept 18 - Paul Martini (OSU) - Establishing a Department Code of Conduct

Oct 9 - Jackie von Spiegel (OSU Dennis Learning Center) - Stress Less: Tips for Building Academic Confidence and Resilience

Nov 6 - Grace Olivier (OSU) - Demographics of OSU Astro Coffee Participation

Dec 4 - Donald Terndrup (OSU) - Teaching Methods that Improve Retention and Reduce Inequality

Mar 4 - Ben Wibking (OSU) - Mental Health and Graduate Students: A Review of the (Small) Literature

Abstract: I will present a summary of the current studies of graduate students' mental health, focusing in particular the prevalence of anxiety and depression.  I will summarize the recommendations of a small number of university- and graduate-student-sponsored reports on the topic, and conclude with a discussion of possible next steps for our department to be proactive about graduate student mental health.

Nov 13 - Paul Martini (OSU) - Lessons from Diversity and Inclusion from Google's Project Aristotle

Abstract: One famous quote from Aristotle is "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." This is the origin of the name of Google's Project Aristotle, which was a detailed study of 180 teams to answer the question: What makes an effective team? The answer was surprising - the most important factor was the existence of a sense of psychological safety, which is the perception of the consequences of taking an interpersonal risk, such as the risk of appearing unintelligent or negative. And many factors were not important at all, such as the mix of personality types, and whether or not the teams were simply stacked with the people with the strongest resumes. These results are very relevant for diversity and inclusion because environments with high psychological safety are also ones where people from diverse backgrounds feel most welcome to participate, and are the most inclusive. I will describe Project Aristotle and psychological safety in more detail, as well as draw parallels between teams at Google and academia.

Sept 26 - Sarah Kessler & Annika Peter (OSU) - LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Physics and Astronomy

Abstract: We present the Best Practices Guide (https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.08406) for academic departments and other institutions striving to create more inclusive environments for physicists and astronomers in the LGBTQ+ community. The recommendations incorporate new research and are designed for anyone who wishes to become aware of -- and help mitigate -- the extra burdens that face members of the LGBTQ+ community in the physical sciences.

Paper discussed during this presentation: https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.08406

Aug 8 - Steven Villanueva & Katie Auchettl (OSU) - Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences

Abstract: The National Academies report "Sexual Harassment of Women" explores the influence of sexual harassment in academia on the career advancement of women in the scientific, technical, and medical workforce. This report reviews the research on the extent to which women in the fields of science, engineering, and medicine are victimized by sexual harassment and examines the existing information on the extent to which sexual harassment in academia negatively impacts the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women pursuing scientific, engineering, technical, and medical careers. It also identifies and analyzes the policies, strategies and practices that have been the most successful in preventing and addressing sexual harassment in these settings.

Paper discussed during this presentation: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24994/sexual-harassment-of-women-climate-culture-and-consequences-in-academic

Jun 27 - Mike Lopez (OSU Physics) - Two Interventions in Motion at OSU Physics: Targeted Psychological and Programmatic Mentorship

Abstract: The theme of this astronomy/physics Diversity Journal Club meeting is interventions to increase retention, achievement, and satisfaction in physics/astronomy. The first paper demonstrates that a small targeted psychological intervention conducted in class can combat negative stereotypes of women in science and lead to greater learning and course grade outcomes among women especially those most susceptible to the stereotype. We will discuss this cutting-edge psychology education intervention technique and how underrepresented populations can receive boosts from them. The second paper shows how a physics mentorship program focused on creating community and belongingness can help increase retention, achievement, and satisfaction among underrepresented populations in physics. We will discuss each paper for about 20 min each. After each discussion I will present work being done at OSU along those intervention routes for about 10 min each. Any time remaining will be open discussion. I would like to stick around to have a post-discussion with graduate students to help bring astronomy input and leadership into Polaris, the OSU Physics graduate-undergraduate mentorship program.

Papers discussed during this presentation:
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1195996
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-016-0043-2