The conference had nine presentations spanning a wide range of physics topics, with a special focus on personal experiences related to gender and diversity in the field. Additionally, it included a panel discussion titled "Cultural Perspectives in Physics: Navigating Diversity Through Experience and Collaboration" and a roundtable discussion on "Accessibility in Physics: Supporting Individuals with Special Needs in Education and Research."
The event began with an introduction by the authorities, who highlighted the history of FAU and the significant role of Wilhelmina von Bayreuth in its founding. They presented statistics to underscore the growing number of women at the university.
The previous conference, DIPHER 2022, was also mentioned. This event received the prestigious Renate-Wittern-Sterzel Award, with FAU recognizing the organizers, PHYDINE, for their efforts and encouraging them to expand initiatives in research and teaching to advance gender equality and diversity at the university. Founded in 2019, the local organizing committee, PHYDINE (Physics and Diversity Network), has been actively promoting gender and diversity within the Physics Department. Prof. Kristina Giesel, the women's representative for physics, then introduced the conference theme: diversity in physics, with a particular emphasis on cultural differences. She began by presenting data on cultural diversity in Germany and encouraged speakers and participants to use the event as an opportunity to share experiences and seek mutual support.
The conference commenced with a presentation by Alicia Rouco Escorial, an astronomer and member of both the ESA and the Spanish Astronomy Society. She began by discussing observed transient phenomena at low X-ray luminosities, then shifted to describe the state of equity, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) initiatives in Spain. As a member of CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics), she highlighted various efforts to promote diversity, including mandatory awareness courses, which reflect her ongoing commitment to these challenges. The second talk, presented by Sumati Surya, a professor from Raman University in India, explored quantum gravity. She began by describing science as a fundamentally human endeavor—a domain where everyone is free to contribute and research without discrimination or institutional barriers. Drawing on a pre-Buddhist metaphor to illustrate how different perspectives shape understanding, she used quantum gravity as an example: a field where diverse approaches each highlight different aspects, and maybe only through collaboration can the true theory of quantum gravity be found. Surya then addressed the issue of misogyny, describing it as a deeply ingrained societal problem. She read a poignant, self-authored poem reflecting her personal struggles against misogyny. Yet, she concluded with a message of hope: despite these challenges, she emphasized that women possess the freedom and power to think and to pursue science; it is the harassers, ultimately, who remain trapped.
The second day began with a presentation by Cosimo Inserra, a UK-based reader, who discussed diversity within the British Astronomical Society and several English universities. He highlighted recent progress, including the adoption of a code of conduct that promotes equality, leading for example to an increase in female professors in physics. Cosimo stressed the crucial role of allies, those people on every level who provide support for minority groups. They also introduced an anonymous proposal evaluation model to mitigate unconscious bias and shared strategies to promote diversity in hiring processes. Emphasizing the distinction between equality and equity, Cosimo argued that true equity requires providing everyone with the right tools to achieve the same goals. In contrast to the Spanish context, the availability of more comprehensive data on diversity in the UK was noticed, enabling a deeper analysis. Finally, he underscored the need for intersectional approaches to address the full spectrum of diversity simultaneously.
In the next talk, Seth Asante, a researcher from Ghana, explored additional aspects of quantum spacetime and quantum gravity. Seth shared his experiences in academia with a quiet openness and genuine sincerity, discussing the microaggressions he had faced and their impact on him. These experiences left him feeling like an outsider, dealing with impostor syndrome, and often feeling isolated. However, on a more positive note, he spoke of his PhD supervisor, who had been a supportive mentor. This mentor even traveled with him to Ghana to visit his family and gave lectures for the African Mathematics Society, an experience that strengthened Seth’s sense of
belonging and connection.
In the afternoon, two workshops were offered: Cultural Differences in Feedback: Mastering Intercultural Teamwork and Entanglement of Gender and Physics. In the first workshop, participants were guided by an expert to evaluate their cultural biases and develop strategies for managing them effectively in intercultural teamwork. The second workshop, organized by students, examined how gender impacts the experiences of physics students within the FAU community.
The day concluded with a panel discussion titled Cultural Perspectives in Physics: Navigating Diversity Through Experience and Collaboration. Three panelists from different continents shared their experiences in tackling the challenges of working in multicultural settings. Topics included cultural biases, communication barriers, and issues related to belonging. Many audience members also participated, sharing their own stories and perspectives on these challenges. The discussion also touched on the topics of mobility and nonpermanent employment. Panelists shared different perspectives on the challenges and considerations surrounding the possibility of returning to their home countries, particularly in relation to career perspectives.
The panelists highlighted the difference between assimilation and inclusion, stressing the importance of preserving cultural traditions without being forced to assimilate. They also shared positive and enriching experiences from international collaborations, noting the more structured, regulated workflows often found in northern countries, compared to the more creative approaches typical of southern countries. Finally, the discussion included suggestions on how to better welcome individuals from different parts of the world, emphasizing the need to make them feel included and to facilitate smoother, more effective collaboration.
The third day began with a talk by Miriam Zapf, a linguistic expert, who discussed the importance of gender-inclusive language from a linguistic perspective. She focused on languages with grammatical gender, particularly the use of alternative forms for traditionally masculine generic terms. While some argue that the gendered meaning of masculine terms can be neutralized, allowing them to refer to individuals of any gender, her psycholinguistic analysis demonstrated that masculine forms are predominantly associated with male individuals in cognitive processing. Miriam then critically examined the common arguments for and against the use of gender-inclusive language, providing a linguistic analysis of each. It was discussed how English, with its use of the gender-neutral pronoun "they," provides a simpler path to gender inclusivity compared to languages with rigid gender structures, where grammatical gender is more deeply ingrained in syntax and usage.
The next talk was presented by Prof. Flavio Seno, the head of the Physics Department at the University of Padova in Italy. He introduced his research on Brownian motion and also discussed his efforts to promote inclusivity, particularly regarding the integration of immigrants, a key issue in Italy. Flavio highlighted the significant disparity between universities in northern and southern Italy, pointing out the differences in progress, especially concerning the employment of women. He briefly touched on the contrasting political approaches and academic efforts related to inclusivity in this context.
After lunch, Patricia Pyrka gave a talk titled Physics, Palsy, and Pliés, in which she challenged the conventional single-track life trajectory by sharing her personal journey. Her story spans her career as a physicist, her work in professional hockey, becoming a mother to a disabled child, and unexpectedly starting ballet at age 37. Ten years later, she is now completing her teaching diploma from Canada’s National Ballet School. Patricia also spoke about her experiences as a caregiver to her now 18-year-old disabled son, explaining how the educational system and the need for a more participatory lifestyle led her family to move from Germany to Canada.
The event continued with a Roundtable Discussion on Supporting People with Special Needs in Education and Research, featuring Patricia and Mati, a brilliant Mathematics Master's student at the University of Vienna with special needs, as the main speakers. They were asked how the physics and broader academic community could create more inclusive spaces by addressing physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers to improve access and participation for individuals with disabilities. One key point raised was that many buildings, especially older ones, are not properly adapted for people with disabilities. The discussion also addressed the various supports available for school students with special needs, both physical and mental, and explored ways to improve these provisions within the German educational system.The discussion also touched on the role of allies, with Mati sharing his overwhelmingly positive experiences of support from his colleagues and most professors. He encouraged everyone to contribute to the cause in whatever way they can, emphasizing the importance of collective action in fostering inclusion. The importance of including disabled individuals in physics and research was emphasized as a valuable and enriching aspect of the field.
The conference concluded with closing remarks from the authorities, who discussed how to encourage more people to raise awareness of these important topics. Prof. Kristina Giesel encouraged to use the momentum generated during the event to spread the knowledge and insights gained over the past few days.
