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Diversity

Photo of students and faculty of an EPSS class

The Division of Physical Sciences reaffirms our identity as an anti-racist academic unit with zero tolerance for racial prejudice.

Increasing the diversity of our faculty, staff, and student body is an important and immediate goal, not only because it is critically urgent for reasons of social justice, but also because a broader pool of talent will foster greater scientific accomplishments that will benefit our society. We recognize that continued violence from police and others targeted to members of the African American community has highlighted deep structural faults, including systemic racism in our society, and we accept responsibility for taking a stronger and more public stand against racism.

Commitment to diversity

Science and technology are among the most privileged and influential sectors of our economy, and the seriously deficient representation of African Americans in these fields is simply unacceptable. Furthermore, it is obvious that not only African Americans suffer from discrimination, but also women, people of color, and people from diverse cultures. However, as we make a commitment to increase diversity in all dimensions, we must focus on immediate improvement in the participation of African Americans and Indigenous people.

Our baseline now

We recognize that in a system of shared governance, academic leaders and faculty members bear the greatest responsibility for the status quo. Faculty members oversee faculty hiring, student admissions, and every aspect of our operations. We will review practices and regulations that result in unequal access and support by faculty and students in our departments.

Specifically, we need to revise and improve faculty search and recruitment strategies to include meaningful student participation. We will strive to make graduate student admissions holistic, looking beyond traditional metrics. We will aim towards a diverse faculty, postdoctoral fellow and student population that reflects the diversity of the state of California and in which everyone is offered the support needed to reach their potential.

As an institution that aims to be among the very best, it is essential that we have ambitious goals. However, we need data to understand where we have been and where we are so we can make informed decisions about where we need to be and accurately monitor our progress. As of 2015, only about 3% of our ~230 ladder faculty were Hispanic or African American, and about 16% of our faculty were women. In the last five years (2015-2020), however, at least 28 out of the 49 faculty hired (57%) in Physical Sciences (and IoES) have increased our diversity. These include two Black men, eight Asian men, ten women (including one Hispanic and two Asian women), seven Hispanic men, and one gay man.

We want to emphasize that this diversification has been achieved without making any compromises with respect to excellence – rather, our standards for research and teaching excellence have increased, not despite our focus on diversity, but because of it. These represent steps in the right direction, but we need to sustain and improve these trends.

With regard to graduate student diversity, as of 2016, only about 6% of our graduate student population identified as African American or Hispanic, and only about 28% were women. By 2019, African American and Hispanic students represented 11.3% and women represented 30% of the graduate student population. So, while the trend is in the right direction, the rate of change is not sufficient.

We need to do a much better job of making our graduate programs attractive to talented women and URM students. This will require financial resources to allow for more competitive stipends and, perhaps more importantly, a support structure that provides mentoring resources and an inclusive climate in which everyone feels welcome and can fulfill their potential.

Student Advisory Board

We have constituted a Physical Sciences Student Advisory Board (PS-SAB) with representation from all departments and IoES. These students have a proven track record of commitment to diversity in all dimensions and are willing to help champion efforts designed to make our departments more equitable and inclusive.

Members of the PS-SAB will support the office of the Dean serving as advisors, liaisons, and problem solvers. They will advise us on the best way to address and prioritize requests for action including those in the OCDS letter. We will ask them to review the actions suggested in this plan and recommend modifications as needed. The PS-SAB will regularly meet with the Dean and members of the Physical Sciences Diversity Committee.

The SAB members are:

Kate Anderson, UCLA graduate student

Katherine Anderson – Math

Kate is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Mathematics, where she studies analysis. Previously, she studied Mathematics and STEM Education at UC Berkeley. Kate loves learning and teaching math and is especially passionate about equity in higher math education. Outside of math, Kate loves the outdoors. She accomplished her longtime dream of hiking the John Muir Trail/Nüümü Poyo in the Fall of 2018.

Kristian Barajas, UCLA graduate student

Kristian Barajas – Physics & Astronomy (physics)

Kristian is a third-year doctoral student and former APS Bridge Fellow within the Department of Physics & Astronomy. His current research focuses on designing the electrostatic potential applied to a linear ion chain as an analytic function of the potential applied to electrodes within a trapped ion quantum computer for improved qubit manipulation. He serves as a councilperson for Marginalized Identities in P&A and a physics grad student representative on the P&A Diversity Committee.

Dayanni Bhagwandin, UCLA graduate student

Dayanni Bhagwandin – Chemistry & Biochemistry (materials/organic)

Born in Guyana, Dayanni moved to the United States with her parents at three. She grew up in New York City and attended the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering, one of New York’s most diverse schools. She graduated from Hunter College with a Chemistry B.A. in 2017, and work in UCLA’s Rubin Lab studying the synthesis of organic materials. In the future, she hopes to work at the intersection of science, policy, and education.

Sara Graves, UCLA graduate student

Sara Graves – Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences

Sara (she/her) is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at UCLA. She completed her undergraduate degree at Carnegie Mellon in physics with minors in public policy and gender studies. Before coming to UCLA she spent time as a scientific researcher, worked at several environmental non-profits, and taught skiing. She hopes to bring conversation about equity and the environment to the forefront of climate science research.

Danielle Hoague, UCLA graduate student

Danielle Hoague – Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Danielle (she/her) is a second-year Ph.D. student in the UCLA Environment and Sustainability program pursuing interdisciplinary research in environmental justice and science and technology studies. Her research explores exchanges between scientific institutions and disadvantaged communities. Danielle is a former community college student who transferred to UC Berkeley, graduating with her B.S. in Society and Environment. At UCLA, she is a Cota-Robles fellow, Center for Diverse Leadership in Science Early-Career fellow, and an NRT-INFEWS fellow.

Robert Housden – Mathematics

Robbie (he/him) is a sixth-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Mathematics, studying algebraic topology. He believes in creating inclusive STEM spaces.

As a mathematician, he is concerned by the over-reliance on biased metrics (citation indices, teaching evaluations, GRE scores, etc.) for hiring and admissions decisions. He is also a dedicated teacher, having served as a TA or instructor for 24 classes at UCLA where he uses evidence-based practices guided by the principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Elisha Jhoti, UCLA graduate student

Elisha Jhoti – EPSS

Elisha is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Geophysics and Space Physics program in the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences. As a mixed-race Indian and British woman, she is excited to help make UCLA a more diverse and inclusive place, especially on intersectional issues. She is also a board member of the Society for Women Geoscientists where she is working on institutional reform to encourage more diversity in her department.

Harris Khan – Mathematics

Harris is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Mathematics who is very passionate about teaching and works as a graduate student instructor. Formerly, Harris worked as a TA, led PEERS workshops, helped teach at the LA Math Circle, and helped with CEED review sessions. He also helped with the implementation of learning assistants in the Math Department.

In 2017, Harris received a B.S. from Northwestern University in applied mathematics with a second major in pure mathematics. He then received an M.S. in Theoretical computer science during the same year. Nowadays, Currently, he is studying algebraic geometry under advisor Burt Totaro, hoping to work towards a thesis by 2022.

Ronald Lopez, UCLA graduate student

Ronald Lopez – Physics & Astronomy (astrophysics)

Ronald is an Astronomy graduate student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He is interested in direct imaging of exoplanets and infrared instrumentation, and is currently studying debris disks with the Gemini Planet Imager. He is also a graduate representative for the Astronomy division, a member of the DEI committee for his department, and a UCLA planetarium coordinator. Outside of Academia, Ronald enjoys playing sports, listening to music, and playing chess.

Shreya Patel – Chemistry & Biochemistry (materials/nanoscience)

Shreya is pursuing a Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry under Professor Sarah Tolbert. Her research is focused on developing new, nanostructured magnetic and magnetoelectric materials for devices such as antennas. She is as passionate about science as she is about science education, and is heavily involved in programs across UCLA geared towards making nanoscience and chemistry accessible to all. In the future, she would like to be a professor or work at a national lab.

Gabriel Ruiz, UCLA graduate student

Gabriel Ruiz – Statistics

Gabriel is a 4th year Ph.D. student in statistics and a proud first-generation college graduate raised in Southern California. He looks forward to adding this perspective to the Physical Sciences Diversity Equity and Inclusion Student Advisory Board.

Isabella Trierweiler – Physics & Astronomy (astronomy)

Isabella is a third-year astronomy graduate student studying exoplanets. She grew up in Alabama and Minnesota and did her undergraduate work at Yale University. In the department, she is a council member of the Marginalized Identities in Physics and Astronomy group and helps coordinate the astronomy graduate student outreach efforts, including Astronomy on Tap and virtual classroom visits with local elementary schools.

Rob Ulrich, UCLA graduate student

Robert Ulrich – Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences

Rob (they/he) is a Biogeochemistry Ph.D. student in the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences. They’ve been awarded fellowships through the National Science Foundation, the Kavli Foundation, and the Center for Diverse Leadership in Science. Rob’s advocacy work centers community building to mitigate isolation and cultivate resilience. He is a Co-Founder of Queer & Trans in STEM, a member of the International LGBTQ+ in STEM Day Collective, and a Co-Director of Reclaiming STEM.

Read the Student Advisory Board charter.

Fundraising for diversity during financial crisis

We will invite students interested in philanthropic work to apply for membership in the Physical Science Development for Diversity Group, who along with philanthropy professionals and faculty will develop a fundraising campaign to help create endowments for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. Members of this group will also help cultivate and steward our donors and supporters. Information on how to join will be posted here soon.

In preparation for this work, we will organize a workshop during the 2020-21 academic year, at which the group will learn the ins and outs of philanthropy work and hone a vital set of skills that may benefit their career far into the future.

IN ACTION:

Support for seminars, workshops, and other activities

While we are an intellectually diverse group with the utmost expertise in mathematics and the hard sciences, most of us have not been exposed to information regarding social structures that affect our behavior, and we have much to learn about social justice, and about the different cultures and life experiences of our colleagues. The division will continue supporting seminars and activities that will help our community become better informed about all aspects of diversity.

We will develop a competitive funding mechanism overseen by the Physical Science Division Diversity Committee to help cover the costs of lectures, panel discussions, workshops, screenings, and other activities that will help empower our diversity groups and/or inform and educate all of us in our community.

IN ACTION:

Physical Sciences Diversity Fellowships

The Division of Physical Sciences is making a financial commitment of $100,000 each year for the next five years to assist in the recruitment of graduate students who are committed to increasing the representation of African Americans and other under-represented groups in their departments. The intent of this fellowship is to provide access to higher education for students who might otherwise find it difficult or impossible to successfully pursue graduate study.

Funds will be committed as a supplement to the stipend normally offered by the departments in their recruitment packages with the purpose of making them competitive with those of other institutions. These fellowships will be in addition to other sources of support including Cota Robles and/or departmental philanthropic endowments.

It will be our goal to have this funding secured in perpetuity from philanthropic sources after the first five years. Departments and faculty will make a commitment to support and mentor the Physical Science Diversity Fellowship students in order to ensure their success.

IN ACTION:

Support for outreach and community engagement

Student- and faculty-led groups within the division who have demonstrated a deep commitment to reaching out to schools in marginalized communities throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

To expand our impact, the division will continue supporting the efforts of student groups who would like to organize activities aimed at bringing science and education to K-12 schools and community colleges. We will set up a competitive program run by the Physical Science Division Diversity Committee in which grants in the range of $500-$2,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis for outreach activities that will help improve our diversity.

IN ACTION:

Support for participation in diversity conferences

The division is able to offer a fund of up to $5,000 per year for each department to help sponsor student participation in diversity conferences such as the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) workshop, and others. Participation will help our students make professional connections with colleagues while helping recruit students to our programs.

Requests for funding should be made through the department representatives on the Physical Science Diversity Committee.

IN ACTION:

Diversity training for faculty

As mandated by the university, all members of faculty search committees must now receive training in search procedures, ensuring that all candidates are given full consideration. This includes training in the area of implicit bias. In addition, we now require a diversity statement from all candidates, and search committees are expected to provide evidence that these statements have been taken into consideration in hiring decisions.

During faculty searches, the work of the search committee is scrutinized at several steps along the way, including at the search plan stage, the applicant pool stage, and the shortlist stage. Search committees must document their efforts to conduct an inclusive search and to minimize the impact of implicit bias.

The diversity of our recent faculty hires documented above shows that this training is having a positive effect, although more remains to be done.

Inclusive excellence and diversity certificate

We will adopt and expand a model based on a successful collaboration between the Divisions of Life and Physical Sciences in which we invite about 40 faculty each year to an Inclusive Excellence Workshop. There, they explore the principles of inclusive pedagogy as a method of teaching in which instructors and classmates work together to create a supportive environment that gives each student equal access to learning.

Led by expert facilitators, the Inclusive Excellence Workshop experientially engages participating faculty in the exploration of key concepts including, but not limited to implicit bias, microaggressions, imposter syndrome, bystander interventions, and the difference between equity and equality.

We will organize workshops in this area specifically intended for Physical Science faculty. We will also look into the creation of a Diversity Certificate program for our entire community, including faculty, students, postdocs, and staff.

Support for diversity and equity courses

We will encourage faculty to develop Fiat Lux courses addressing all aspects of diversity in the sciences, and we will support graduate students interested in joining the Collegium of University Teaching Fellows (CUTF) where they can develop seminar courses addressing topics at the intersection of equity, diversity and inclusion, and their scientific research. Competitive funds will be made available to covers the costs of demonstrations and pedagogical material.

We will also encourage graduate student and postdoctoral fellow participation in the UCLA Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) in which participants receive training in evidence-based teaching practices designed to serve diverse learners.

Physical Sciences Diversity Coordinator

These action plans will require a dedicated staff member who can track these new efforts to expand outreach and recruitment. This individual will be responsible for collecting and analyzing the results of the actions made by each department and by the division. This careful and consistent collection and analyses of data will enable the evaluation of the effectiveness of our efforts, and will provide the departments with important feedback.

As of August 1, 2002, Lisa Garibay will serve as the Divison of Physical Sciences Diversity Coordinator. She is also Public Relations Manager for the division, serving to amplify the research and experiences of our scientists.

Lisa has spearheaded equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives within academia, journalism, and film. She led both the Chicano Caucus and Lesbian, Bisexual, and Gay Alliance at Amherst College; conducted diversity in STEM communication training at The University of Texas at El Paso; and managed Film Independent’s Project:Involve mentorship program to diversify the film industry and empower new leaders.

She has also been a cultural reporter for publications including Backstage, The El Paso Times, Filmmaker Magazine, The San Francisco Bay Guardian, and SOMA Magazine. Previously, her publicity firm LARGetc. promoted artists and nonprofits representing diverse perspectives all over the globe.

Philanthropy to meet the challenges ahead

We must be aware that all steps taken to attain our equity, diversity, and inclusion goals will be influenced by the COVID-19 economy. The Governor of California already announced major budget cuts for the UC System. This will require us to deploy our limited resources in a strategic manner to make only the most impactful funding decisions based on a very careful cost/benefit analysis.

Since we will need resources well beyond those that we can obtain from the state, we will work with our student advisors to develop a compelling vision and a strategy for a future in which UCLA will be a leader in increasing diverse participation in the Physical Sciences among the top research universities in the state and the nation. We will share this vision with our alumni and community supporters with the hope of earning their philanthropy for the creation of endowed student fellowships and diversity initiatives, including mentoring programs aimed at providing our students with a more equitable and inclusive education.

Matching gift program

UCLA Physical Sciences Dean Miguel García-Garibay is dedicating resources to inspire others to give through the Physical Sciences Matching Gift Program, aimed at significantly transforming the future of UCLA Physical Sciences through endowed support.

We recognize the urgency to address social justice priorities and the critical need to increase the diversity of our faculty, staff, and student body. A broader pool of talent fosters greater scientific accomplishments and empowers underrepresented communities that significantly benefit our society.

As a commitment to these efforts, gifts in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion will be considered at a more significant match.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity

Qualifying gifts of $100,000 to $1 million to any Physical Sciences endowment aimed at increasing diversity, equity, and inclusivity within the division will be matched at 100%.

Other Endowments

Qualifying gifts of $100,000 to $1 million to all other Physical Sciences endowments will be matched at 50%.

Physical Sciences Centennial Awards

UCLA Physical Sciences Centennial Awards

The Physical Sciences Centennial Awards honor contributions to diversity, inclusive teaching, mentoring, and leadership at the same level as world-class research. These awards were presented for the first time in Spring 2020.

The Centennial Mentorship Award recognizes a member of the Physical Sciences Division who has demonstrated a commitment to and success in mentoring research students from diverse backgrounds. Through their work with students at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral), this faculty member establishes and nurtures inclusion, and inspires creativity, perseverance, and other positive qualities that have led students to leadership positions in industry, government, and academia.

Our students are the academic leaders of the future. The Excellence in Education Award recognizes both a senate and non-senate faculty member for making a broad impact on classroom inclusivity and demonstrated learning excellence. These educators have demonstrated an ability to create a learning environment in which diverse students can succeed and have had a transformative effect on the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students in both the physical and life sciences. Through their instruction, these faculty members inspire their students to collaborate and contribute to an inclusive community, preparing them to become the intellectual leaders of their generation.

The Centennial Leadership Award recognizes a member of the Physical Sciences Division who has made extraordinary contributions through their service to UCLA, and to academic communities at the national and international levels, with special recognition for impact in the promotion of gender equity and diversity.

Physical Sciences faculty are leading their research fields with contributions from the most creative, productive, and talented students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers who come to UCLA from all over the world. The Physical Science Outstanding Discovery Award recognizes the greatest research discovery made by a Physical Sciences faculty member and their team in 2018-2019.

Learn more about these awards and the faculty they honor.

EDI Student Advisory Board

The UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion regularly invites students to join its EDI Student Advisory Board, which aims to connect, represent, and empower students in ways that produce a meaningful, positive, and enduring improvement to the UCLA campus climate.

The board works to build coalitions between students, advocate on behalf of students at an institutional level, and provide tools from the Office that enable the most effective diversity work possible.

Each board member has a proven track record of caring deeply about equity and hustling to change the communities and institutions around them for the better. These students serve as advisors, liaisons, and problem solvers who will support the Office’s mission of building equity for all.

Read more about the EDI Student Advisory Board.

Physical Sciences student organizations

Student organizations that support students from all backgrounds flourish within the division of Physical Sciences. The list below will be updated regularly. If you are a member of a student group not listed here, please let us know at physicalscience@ucla.edu.

AI Robotics Ethics Society

As technology advances at an exponential rate, it is imperative that we begin thinking about how AI will interact with and impact society at different facets of daily life. An organization open to all majors.

Alpha Chi Sigma Chemistry Society

A professional and social fraternity for men and women in the chemical sciences.

American Indian Science and Engineering Society

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) is a national, nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation indigenous peoples of North America in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies, and careers.

Armenian Engineers and Scientists Association

An organization for anyone interested in Engineering and Science in the Armenian community.

Astronomy Live!

Astronomy Live! is UCLA’s astronomy outreach program run by a group of graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Bruin Home Solutions

A group of student scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs collaborating for a better tomorrow, making an impact–one project at a time.

Bruin Sports Analytics

A student-run sports statistics club that serves as a platform for sports research, data journalism, and machine learning applications.

Center for Education Innovation & Learning in the Sciences (CEILS)

The CEILS Learning Assistant program is open to undergraduates in the sciences at UCLA. Its mission is to empower all students through inclusive STEM teaching. By facilitating collaborative and inclusive learning, LAs transform the STEM classroom into one that encourages every student to ask, interact, explain, and deepen their own understanding.

Center for Diverse Leadership in Science

The UCLA Center for Diverse Leadership in Science (CDLS) is an initiative to bring people from diverse backgrounds into science. A CDLS fellowship is a unique opportunity for early-career scientists to build community, grow leadership skills, engage in collaborative research, and gain support.

Chi Epsilon Pi- AOS Society

Chi Epsilon Pi (ΧΕΠ) is a graduate student group in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at UCLA that works to support graduate students in our department.

Collaboration in Undergraduate Research Enrichment at UCLA

CURE at UCLA aims to expose, interest, and prepare undergraduate students for an optimized and exciting research experience.

Data Science Union

The Data Science Union at UCLA is an organization whose prime aim is the further the intuitive knowledge of individuals interested in Data Science.

Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Student Organization

Representing undergraduate and graduate students in EPSS.

Environmentalists of Color Collective

The Environmentalists of Color Collective at UCLA aims to raise awareness about the contributions that people of color have made to the environmental just ice movement; reframe the definition and values of mainstream sustainability to be more inclusive of all marginalized and underrepresented communities; and stimulate critical dialogue about environmental racism and justice issues at UCLA and beyond.

Exploring Your Universe

An organization that produces a day packed with STEM outreach presentations to thousands of visitors each fall.

Organization for Cultural Diversity in Science (OCDS)

Working to increase visibility and promote student participation at all educational levels in the physical and life sciences through community college outreach events and a quarterly lecture series.

Queer and Trans in STEM (qSTEM)

Queer and Trans in STEM is an organization for LGBTQ+ graduate and undergraduate students in STEM fields at UCLA. The goal of the organization is to promote inclusivity and empower people who are not as comfortable being open toward their colleagues.

Science Lab Teaching Club

An outreach club within the physics and astronomy department that focuses on teaching kids science in the Los Angeles area.

Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

Fostering the success of science students, postdocs, and professionals by providing a forum for academic, social, and community activities and services.

Society of Physics Students

An academic and social club where students interested in physics or physics-related activities come together to explore new things and have fun.

Society of Women Geoscientists

This organization encompasses students in AOS & EPSS, with some additional participation from P&A, Geography, and IoES students. The organization focuses on outreach and advocacy for women in a variety of geosciences.

Society of Women in Statistics

The Society of Women in Statistics (SWS) is a group of graduate students, faculty, and staff of the UCLA Department of Statistics that seeks to foster a sense of inclusive community, encourage additional female students and faculty to join the Department, and promote the professional advancement of its members.

Statistics Club

Social events, workshops, and guest talks for students interested in statistics and data science. Organizers of the annual ASA DataFest — the largest data hackathon on the West Coast.

STEM Transfer Community

An organization that informs, empowers, and unites STEM transfer students at UCLA.

Student Members of the American Chemical Society, UCLA Chapter

An on-campus student chapter of the world’s largest scientific society, open to undergrads and grad students of all majors.

Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)

The UCLA Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) offer upper division undergraduate students with outstanding academic potential the opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors on research projects. The programs are designed for students who wish to learn more about the graduate school experience and possibly pursue an academic career in teaching and research. Applications for summer 2018 are due March 31.

UCLA Alumni STEM Networking Night

This annual Student Alumni Association tradition gives undergraduates the opportunity to learn about careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as well as to interact with alumni who graduated with STEM degrees.

UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry Graduate Student Association (CBGSA)

UCLA CBGSA is a graduate student association for those affiliated with the chemistry/biochemistry program and who are interested in science outreach in the community.

Undergraduate Mathematics Student Association

Open to anyone interested in mathematics.

Upsilon Lab – A lab for undergraduates, by undergraduates

Upsilon Lab is a department-sponsored organization within the UCLA Physics & Astronomy department. Undergraduates in the department provide other physics, biophysics, and astrophysics majors the opportunity to learn valuable skills to succeed in their future endeavors, whether in research, engineering, or other fields.

Women in Math

Women in Math (WIM) at the UCLA Mathematics department is an informal group of women graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and visitors that regularly holds lunches, dinners, and other social gatherings with the goal of fostering community and providing support for the women in the department.

Women in Physical Sciences

WPS is an organization that seeks to create a supportive atmosphere for all women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields of study. Its goal is to provide encouragement and guidance to our members through research opportunities, academic-related excursions, and social activities.

Women in Physics and Astronomy at UCLA

Graduate student organization dedicated to supporting women in physics and astronomy who are breaking the boundaries of women in science.

Resources for support and well-being

The RISE Center is hosting Virtual Healing spaces for Black students, staff and faculty in the UCLA Community. Participants are invited into a supportive community to experience trauma-informed and healing-centered practices for resilience, self-care, well-being, and insight. The sessions are open to Black-identifying students, faculty, and staff. Click here for more details.

UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) supports your mental health needs as you pursue your academic goals. Services are designed to foster the development of healthy well-being necessary for success in a complex global environment. Services include crisis counseling available by phone 24 hours a day/7 days a week; emergency intervention; individual counseling and psychotherapy; group therapy and more. Click here for more information about CAPS and to book a telehealth appointment.

Equity, diversity and inclusion statement for faculty

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are key components of The University of California’s commitment to excellence. Thus, teaching, research, professional, and public service contributions that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion are encouraged and given due recognition in the evaluation of each candidate’s qualifications.

To aid the hiring or promotions committee’s review, faculty are required to provide an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement that describes past, present, and planned contributions to equity, diversity, and/or inclusion. Click here for information about the statement and types of activity demonstrating a commitment to EDI.

Inclusion strategies

Research shows that groups with higher social diversity (i.e., diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation) share more information, are more creative, and perform better than those with lower social diversity. Click here for resources on creating classrooms, research groups, and other interactions that foster inclusivity.

Council of Advisors

The Council of Advisors is a group of experienced faculty members who have volunteered to provide career advising to assistant professors in the regular rank and in-residence series. The Council is made up of full professors with mentorship and promotion expertise. Members represent all areas of the campus, including the School of Medicine.

This Council provides both breadth and depth in terms of understanding what is required to advance through the faculty ranks at UCLA. This mentorship arrangement is confidential and has no direct bearing on promotion.

Mentoring

The Faculty Member’s Guide to Career Success Through Mentoring provides strategies for achieving success in academia by gaining adequate and appropriate mentoring. Expecting that you can get all the help you need from a single source is unrealistic. This resource offers guidance on how to deploy a networking model to find an array of mentors who can supply help and advice in the areas where you need it. This guide explores how to establish and refine your goals, find and choose appropriate mentors, and cultivate and evaluate your mentoring relationships.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards

The Academic Senate Task Force on a Fair and Open Academic Environment was established in 1991 following a call from the system-wide Academic Senate and the Office of the President to “establish programs designed to raise the awareness and sensitivity of faculty and staff to potentially prejudicial or discriminatory practices and behaviors.” One of the recommendations of the Task Force, approved at the May 23, 1995 Legislative Assembly, was that the Chancellor should establish a system of campus recognition and rewards for faculty, administrators, students, and staff who are especially successful in a fair and open environment.

In 2009 the Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (CODEI) changed the award name to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. The award is to be given on an annual basis.

Proposals are reviewed and winners determined by the Academic Senate Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. As many as four faculty recipients, two student recipients, and one staff recipient are named annually. Each recipient receives a $2,000.00 cash award. All recipients are honored at the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dinner.

Click here to learn more about and apply for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award.

Training on implicit bias

The UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion offers videos, guides, tests, and scholarly reports to educate about implicit bias and ways to counter it. Click here for this suite of resources.

Faculty & staff counseling services

UCLA’s Staff and Faculty Counseling Center (SFCC) fosters a productive and supportive work environment for all employees. Services include confidential counseling for employees and their family members, management consultation, coaching, training, retreat facilitation, work-life programs, support groups, and community resource referrals. These services are free, voluntary, and confidential. During the pandemic, SFCC is scheduling telephonic sessions for UCLA employees and their immediate family members/significant others. Please call 310-794-0245 to arrange for a telephone call or click here for more information.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Emily Carter issued a statement, “Rising to the Challenge“, to the UCLA community, outlining upcoming actions and initiatives to ensure racial justice and lasting change on campus. Read the outline.

The UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion works in collaboration with campus partners from across UCLA offering services related to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Discrimination Prevention and Title IX teams

Student Affairs Programs and Resources

Additional Campus Resources

Training Opportunities

Physical Sciences Diversity Committee

The Physical Sciences Diversity Committee represents all departments in the Division of Physical Sciences and includes faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students. It is charged with overseeing efforts to increase faculty, staff, and student diversity, equity, and inclusion in the division, including the initiatives listed above.

Physical Sciences Diversity Committee Members

Albert Courey (Chair), Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Catherine Clarke, Associate Dean of Physical Sciences, Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Rong Fu, Professor of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences

Miguel García-Garibay, Dean of Physical Sciences and Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Lisa Garibay, Public Relations Manager and Diversity Coordinator, Physical Sciences

Andrea Ghez, Professor of Physics & Astronomy

David Gonzalez, Alumnus and Postdoc at the David Geffen School of Medicine

Tama Hasson, Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Research

Michael Hill, Professor of Mathematics

Jingyi Jessica Li, Associate Professor of Statistics

Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni, Professor of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences

Kathleen Micham, Assistant Dean of Physical Sciences

Jordyn Moscoso, Graduate Student Member

Smadar Naoz, Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy

Ani Mustafa, Graduate Student Member

Britney Robinson, Undergraduate Student Member

Shanna Shaked, Senior Associate Director, Center for Education Innovation & Learning in the Sciences (CEILS)

Joseph Teran, Professor of Mathematics

Jorge Torres, Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry

We welcome the opportunity to hear your views about how we can transform UCLA Physical Sciences into an inclusive enterprise in which everyone has the opportunity to contribute and succeed, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Virtual open forums will be regularly held for the exchange of ideas and concerns. Information about these events will be posted here and on our social media accounts. You are always welcome to email us at physicalscience@ucla.edu.