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Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Members of the UC San Diego Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics are committed to fostering an environment where Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) are at the forefront of our educational and research missions. EDIB is an active pursuit, continually striving to improve our department, campus, and the field of astronomy as a whole. This page provides further information on departmental initiatives and programs.

EDIB Departmental Funding Process

A&A Department EDIB Funds Request Process

The Astronomy and Astrophysics Department welcomes proposals for funding EDIB initiatives within the department. This could include activities such as travel to an EDIB conference, development of an EDI-related outreach effort, hosting an EDIB speaker, EDIB-specific professional development, or other EDIB-related activities.  The amount of funding will be based upon available resources and the scope of the project and may involve cost-sharing with other funds available on campus.

To propose for EDIB funds applicants should:

1) write a short (~1 page) description of the proposed activity
2) create a budget including a justification
3) outline whether efforts were made to propose for funds from the Dean (see https://physicalsciences.ucsd.edu/overview/division-committees.html#EDI-Fund-Request), the central campus EDI office (https://diversity.ucsd.edu/edi-resources/index.html), or other relevant campus entity (i.e., GEPA).

Please submit the above to the A&A Department Chair and CAO (Chief Administrative Officer) for review.  EDIB proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.

EDIB Activities

Members of the A&A Department lead and participate in a number of activities aimed at fostering Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.  Details and contact information for on-going activities can be found below. 

Graduate Women in Physics

Graduate Women in Physics exists to discuss the challenges members encounter as women and other gender minorities in physics. We also plan large scale social/professional development events that promote gender minority voices in Physics and foster connections between gender minorities in Physics and related STEM disciplines. We meet periodically to discuss everything from how to find an advisor to life after grad school to just chatting over coffee.

Contact: Anaya Valluvan 

2025 CU*IP Conference

The APS Conferences for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities (CU*IP) is a professional conference for undergraduate women and gender minorities to build their networks and further their careers in physics and astronomy, and will be hosted in January 2025 at UC San Diego.

Contact: Prof. Adam Burgasser

Affinity Group for International Astronomers

UCSD’s Affinity Group for International Astronomers is an international community of UCSD astronomers with the goal to offer a safe space, serve as a support group, and share resources for international undergraduates, graduates, postdocs, staff, and faculty at the UCSD astronomy department.

Contact: Prof. Floor Broekgaarden

Burbidge Visiting Professorship

The Burbidge Visiting Professorship brings eminent women and/or URM astrophysicists to UC San Diego on a short-term basis for collaborative research interactions within the department.

Contact: Prof. Steven Boggs

STARTastro

STARTastro is a bridge program for incoming transfer students from local community colleges, that provides a paid summer academic and research experience before transfer as well as academic and professional development support throughout the year.

Contact: Prof. Adam Burgasser and Prof. Karin Sandstrom

UCSD Early Career Astrophysicists & Their Supporters

UCSD Early Career Astrophysicists & Their Supporters organizes occasional workshops and panels for early career astronomers & their supporters. This UCSD workshop series consists of interactive workshop and discussion sessions and has the aim to provide (1) practical resources, tools and (soft) skills that are important for UCSD’s ECAs and their supporters (2) build a (peer) support network and, (3) discuss common challenges/championships. The series will focus around early career astronomers, but people at all career stages are also welcome and will be actively recruited to participate and share their experiences in discussions and/or panels.

Contact: Floor Broekgaarden