{"672845":{"#nid":"672845","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Creating a Research Community: Georgia Tech Hosts Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIt wasn\u2019t long ago that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alice-heranval\/\u0022\u003EAlice Heranval\u003C\/a\u003E excitedly attended \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/laura-cadonati\u0022\u003ELaura Cadonati\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s lecture on the first detected gravitational wave.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBack then, I was in middle school,\u201d Heranval shares. \u201cWhen I got here, I asked, \u2018What are the options of people that I could work with?\u2019 I contacted [Cadonati], and that was really cool.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ENow, as a third-year physics student at Georgia Tech, Heranval works closely with Cadonati to continue her astrophysics research. Recently, she proudly stood by her poster at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cuwip.physics.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EConference for Undergraduate Women in Physics\u003C\/a\u003E (CUWiP), \u0026nbsp;presenting her research on the time frequency of gravitational waves.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003ECreating CUWiP\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe goal of CUWiP,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/flavio-fenton\u0022\u003EFlavio Fenton\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E and one of the conference organizers, \u201cis to provide a professional conference for undergraduate women and students of non-traditional genders to explore opportunities in graduate schools, careers, research, and community-building.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is one of 14 universities to hold regional CUWiP meetings in 2024, giving student researchers like Heranval an opportunity to present their research to other undergraduates on a regional and national scale. The nationwide effort is organized by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.aps.org\/programs\/women\/cuwip\/\u0022\u003EAmerican Physical Society\u003C\/a\u003E, employing local organizing committees to host three-day regional conferences.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBeing a part of the organizing committee for CUWiP has been such an amazing and fulfilling experience,\u201d shared \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/krishma-singal-41130882\/\u0022\u003EKrishma Singal\u003C\/a\u003E, a physics Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech. \u201cI attended two CUWiPs in the past, including the 2016 one held at Georgia Tech, and it\u2019s been surreal getting to be on the other side and help organize this for so many future physicists.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s iteration of CUWiP was held from January 19-21, and saw nearly 200 students and faculty. In addition to Singal and Fenton, organizers included School of Physics faculty member \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/emily-alicea-mu\u00f1oz\u0022\u003EEmily Alicea-Mu\u00f1oz\u003C\/a\u003E, as well as chemistry Ph.D. student \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/silva.chemistry.gatech.edu\/group-members\/\u0022\u003ERavyn Malatesta\u003C\/a\u003E and physics Ph.D. students \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/megan-arogeti\u0022\u003EMegan Arogeti\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/sarah-gonzalez\u0022\u003ESarah Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/elisa-rheaume\u0022\u003EElisa Rheaume\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/evan-rheaume\u0022\u003EEvan Rheaume\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/snigdaa-sethuram\u0022\u003ESnigdaa Sethuram\u003C\/a\u003E. Oregon State University\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/drenniks\/\u0022\u003EDanielle Skinner\u003C\/a\u003E and Oglethorpe University\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oglethorpe.edu\/faculty\/kelimar-diaz-cruz\/\u0022\u003EKelimar Diaz Cruz\u003C\/a\u003E also served on the committee.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI learned so much from these past several months planning this conference, and seeing it all come together with so many happy attendees has been incredibly rewarding,\u201d added Singal. \u201cI am grateful to be a part of this and am excited to see these future physicists thrive and accomplish great things in the future!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EConnecting through research\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s CUWiP attendees witnessed student and faculty posters, presentations, and keynote addresses. One such speaker was \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk\/professor-jocelyn-bell-burnell\u0022\u003EJocelyn Bell Burnell\u003C\/a\u003E, a visiting professor from the University of Oxford. Burnell\u2019s discovery of pulsars, which consequently led to a new branch of astrophysics, has solidified her place as not only a celebrated figure in physics, but also as a symbol of perseverance for women in science.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u201cIt really motivates me, the people that I meet [at conferences],\u201d said Hernaval. \u201cDr. Burnell\u2019s talk that we witnessed was just incredible \u2014 anytime I see somebody who\u2019s a model for me, I just want to continue.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBeing surrounded by other women passionate about research and physics has also helped \u003Cstrong\u003EShamita Hanumasagar\u003C\/strong\u003E, fourth-year physics and economics student at Georgia Tech, find her community.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nHanumasagar\u2019s project, \u201cGamma Ray Bursts: Exploring the Universe\u2019s Most Violent Explosions,\u201d offers a deeper look into black hole formation and early-universe activity through gamma-ray radiation. She currently works at Georgia Tech\u2019s\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ligo.org\u0022\u003E LIGO\u003C\/a\u003E (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) group in multi-messenger astronomy. Multi-messenger astronomy covers the study of cosmic rays, gravitational waves, neutrinos, and gamma rays, all of which she studies at LIGO \u2014 except for gamma rays.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nIn pursuit of being a completionist and wanting to \u201ccollect them all,\u201d Hanumasagar said, she started applying to university research opportunities for the summer. She found the University of Utah\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.utah.edu\/u6039460-TANMOY_LASKAR\/research\/index.hml\u0022\u003ETanmoy Laskar\u003C\/a\u003E, who specializes in astrological phenomena like gamma ray bursts. \u201cTogether, we found more information about gamma ray bursts than had ever been done before.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u201cI appreciate that CUWiP offers a safe space for women in particular,\u201d Hanumasagar added. \u201cIt can often be really hard to breach into learning about physics or even the technical aspect of it without feeling out of place, particularly as a minority.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDelaney Murray\u003C\/strong\u003E, a student from the University of Georgia, notes that despite women making up the minority in physics, there is still diversity within these women that is to be celebrated.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy favorite thing about this is that you\u2019re seeing so many different people, so many different backgrounds,\u201d Murray said. \u0026nbsp;\u201cI\u2019m seeing a bunch of different women. It\u2019s really inspiring. I want to be like them \u2014 I want to put in the same amount of effort.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMurray, who conducted her research on developing a radio satellite, uses the inspiration and motivation from her peers to fuel her passion for research and discovery. \u201cTo be at that spearhead of new astronomical discoveries is one of the biggest honors that I can ever think of. I\u2019m still out there \u2014 a little part of that sphere \u2014 in progressing humanity.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EUniversity of Florida astrophysics student \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/artemis-theodoridis-b71819229\/\u0022\u003EArtemis Theodoridis\u003C\/a\u003E also says attending CUWiP gave her motivation to continue her research. Her poster, \u201cUtilizing the Accuracy of TESS Asteroseismology for the Advancement of Stellar Archeology,\u201d recaps her work with the University of Florida\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astro.ufl.edu\/directory\/jamie-tayar\/\u0022\u003EJamie Tayar\u003C\/a\u003E on stellar evolution models that catalog the ages of stars.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u201cMany panelists say there\u2019s a lot of imposter syndrome, and sometimes, you feel isolated,\u201d says Theodoridis. \u201cAttending CUWiP and being surrounded by women who study physics motivates me to keep going at what I\u2019m doing.\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCUWiP connects students to more research opportunities in the future, according to Theodoridis. \u201cWhen you present your poster, people remember you by name. In my experiences, it makes me more confident as a scientist and in my capabilities.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe CUWiP conference, at least when held at Georgia Tech, has life-changing outcomes for many of the students who attend,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/jennifer-curtis\u0022\u003EJennifer Curtis\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the School of Physics and ADVANCE Professor for the College. \u201cI can think of nearly a dozen individuals from this recent event, for whom I know this is 100% true.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech recently hosted almost 200 students for the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics, where students presented their own work and had the opportunity to connect over research, mentorship, and inclusivity.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech recently hosted the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics, almost 200 students had the opportunity to connect over research, mentorship, and inclusivity."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2024-02-08 21:36:20","changed_gmt":"2024-02-12 15:17:16","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-02-09T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-02-09T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673019":{"id":"673019","type":"image","title":"Nearly 200 students attended the regional Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics, hosted in January by Georgia Tech.","body":null,"created":"1707428594","gmt_created":"2024-02-08 21:43:14","changed":"1707428594","gmt_changed":"2024-02-08 21:43:14","alt":"A group photo of all the conference attendees.","file":{"fid":"256361","name":"Georgia Tech CUWiP Conference Attendees.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/02\/08\/Georgia%20Tech%20CUWiP%20Conference%20Attendees.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/02\/08\/Georgia%20Tech%20CUWiP%20Conference%20Attendees.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3265576,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/02\/08\/Georgia%20Tech%20CUWiP%20Conference%20Attendees.jpg?itok=tqZaVNIY"}},"673034":{"id":"673034","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech physics student Alice Heranval presents her poster at CUWiP. Photo: Heather Lee","body":null,"created":"1707520842","gmt_created":"2024-02-09 23:20:42","changed":"1707520842","gmt_changed":"2024-02-09 23:20:42","alt":"Alice Heranval presents her poster at CUWiP.","file":{"fid":"256382","name":"Alice Heranval Georgia Tech.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/02\/09\/Alice%20Heranval%20Georgia%20Tech.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/02\/09\/Alice%20Heranval%20Georgia%20Tech.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":172113,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/02\/09\/Alice%20Heranval%20Georgia%20Tech.jpg?itok=YRfMuVjf"}},"673035":{"id":"673035","type":"image","title":"Shamita Hanumasagar, fourth-year physics and economics student at Georgia Tech.","body":null,"created":"1707520900","gmt_created":"2024-02-09 23:21:40","changed":"1707520900","gmt_changed":"2024-02-09 23:21:40","alt":"Shamita Hanumasagar, fourth-year physics and economics student at Georgia Tech.","file":{"fid":"256383","name":"Shamita Hanumasagar.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/02\/09\/Shamita%20Hanumasagar.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/02\/09\/Shamita%20Hanumasagar.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1537633,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/02\/09\/Shamita%20Hanumasagar.jpg?itok=hdIv_svz"}},"673036":{"id":"673036","type":"image","title":"University of Florida astrophysics student Artemis Theodoridis.","body":null,"created":"1707520943","gmt_created":"2024-02-09 23:22:23","changed":"1707520943","gmt_changed":"2024-02-09 23:22:23","alt":"University of Florida astrophysics student Artemis Theodoridis.","file":{"fid":"256384","name":"Artemis 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Before They Happen?"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/10-years-200-papers-two-physicists-collaboration-co-advising-and-complex-biophysics","title":"10 Years, 200 Papers: Two Physicists on Collaboration, Co-advising \u2014 and Complex Biophysics"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"53281","name":"American Physical Society"},{"id":"193502","name":"CUWiP"},{"id":"167441","name":"student research"},{"id":"77261","name":"academic 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