Sunday, June 2, 2019
By:
My first week in DC has flown by! I am the APS Career Programs Intern this summer, and I am working with Crystal Bailey to create a deck of playing cards that features successful women in different physics careers. These cards will be handed out to each student that attends the Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiPs) in January 2020, and they will also be sold on the APS store. As I am putting together these cards, I will also be updating and adding to the profiles of physicists listed on the APS website.
I applied for this internship because I wanted to make a broader impact on underrepresented groups in physics, particularly women, through some form of outreach. At the 2018 CUWiP, I learned that often women do not choose a physics major in college because they are unaware of the resulting career options. This knowledge made me especially interested in the SPS position with careers. This internship aligns perfectly with my goals and interests, and I am thrilled with my placement.
Before arriving in DC, I had a couple of Zoom meetings with Crystal to come up with a project idea that would encapsulate the diversity of careers in physics while specifically targeting underrepresented groups. I am so grateful to Crystal and her team for allowing me to be a part of the decision for my project, and I am really excited to see the result. So far, I’ve been going through the list of existing physicist profiles and finding additional candidates for the playing cards while making sure that we have women representing a wide range of careers, races, sexual orientations, etc. This part of the project has been so much fun, and I have already learned a lot from these women. They each share such unique stories and wise words of advice that I can’t wait to pass along to other physics students through the playing cards we are creating.
Outside of work, I am having an amazing time getting to know the other interns and exploring the area. Meg and I have been going to yoga classes at Yoga District, and several of us went to Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art Friday evening. The hour-long commute each way to work hasn’t left much time at the apartment during the week, but when I’m not at yoga, I’ve been having fun trying new recipes and watching The Good Place with my roommates. I’m having a great time so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the summer has in store!
Jacqueline Blaum