University of Helsinki
Our next colloquium will be on Friday 16th November. Our speaker is an internationally renowned particle physicist, Professor Michael Ramsey-Musolf from UMass Amherst. Michael is also director of the Amherst Center for Fundamental Interactions. He is known for his advocacy for the LGBTQ community in physics. He is a co-author of the Best Practices Guide for LGBT+ Inclusivity in Physics and Astronomy, jointly developed by the lgbt+physicists and the AAS Committee for Sexual and Gender Minorities in Astronomy. In his colloquium talk this week, titled Shattering the Lavender Ceiling: A Gay Theoretical Physicist’s Perspective, he will share his own insights as well as discuss some positive actions we can take as a community. Here is his abstract:
Science advances most effectively when the scientific community embraces and supports scientists from all backgrounds and identities. In this talk, I focus on the particular challenges to full inclusion in the scientific enterprise faced by LGBTQ physicists – the “lavender ceiling”. I will share insights from my own experience as an out gay theoretical physicist and from a recent American Physical Society climate study. I will also highlight some “best practices” that a physics department may adopt to engender a more inclusive climate for sexual and gender minorities.
After the 30 minute talk, there will be a cocktail reception. Welcome!
Update 27.11.2018: You can watch a video of Michael’s talk here: