Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University believes that scientific education and inquiry thrives in an inclusive and diverse community. We commit to fostering a climate of inclusion, fairness, and respect for all people. We seek to enrich our workplace and learning environments with students, researchers, faculty, mentors, and staff from the diverse population of Rice, Houston, the US, and the World.

In our pursuit of breakthrough scientific discovery, effective pedagogy, inspiring mentorship and dedicated service to promote scientific literacy to the general public, we will support and empower individuals of every race, religion, gender and gender identity, ethnicity, national origin and immigrant status, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, physical appearance and ability, socioeconomic background, and military or veteran status, so that they can realize their potential.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resources

1. Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)

Rice University's ODI website provides numerous links to programs, fellowships, and resources for both undergraduate and graduate students.

https://diversity.rice.edu/

2. Rice Emerging Scholars Program (RESP)

RESP is a residential academic program designed to help prepare first-year students for challenging pace, depth, and rigor of the Rice STEM curricula.

https://success.rice.edu/rice-emerging-scholars

3. The Tapia Center

The Tapia Center focuses on empowering underrepresented students who are passionate about their education. The center also hosts STEM camps for students.

https://tapiacenter.rice.edu/

4. The Rice Office of STEM Engagement (R-STEM)

R-STEM serves as Rice's central point of contact for all STEM related outreach and education efforts both at Rice, and in the surrounding community. R-STEM also provides a variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) programs, seminars and workshops for educators, K-12 students, undergraduate students, and graduate students.

https://research.rice.edu/rstem/

5. Women in Physics

Women in Physics (WiP) is a student-led organization that aims to provide a network of support and resources for female undergraduate and graduate students in the P&A department and Applied Physics program. WiP connects students across different subfields with one another and with professional women, who can advise and mentor students throughout their academic careers and beyond. For further information, contact current WiP president Hana Jaafari (hana.k.jaafari@rice.edu) or WiP’s faculty advisor Prof. Ming Yi (mingyi@rice.edu).

6. Reach for the Stars! STEM Festival

Every year, the Physics and Astronomy Department at Rice, The Rice Space Institute and the Ride Family Foundation organize a STEM festival which is attended by middle school girls. Typically, the festival includes a street fair, an inspiring talk by a woman astronaut, and roughly thirty women-led science and engineering workshops.

https://space.rice.edu/ReachForTheStars/

7. The Society of Women in Space Exploration (SWISE)

The Students for the Exploration of Space (SEDS) program has a Rice Chapter of SWISE that aims to provide a platform to women and other diversities in STEM to talk and discuss current trends, issues and be able to have open conversations about career paths.

https://seds.rice.edu