1 Diversity at SRC Joseph Bisognano Director

2 Synchrotron Radiation Center  Enables wide-ranging, high-impact research, with emphasis on lower energy photons using 1 GeV Aladdin Electron Storage Ring  Valence electron studies (high T c superconductors, nanostructures, low dimensional solids, atoms/ions/molecules)  Microanalysis of cells, tissues and minerals, especially with spectromicroscopy  Nanolithography and nanotechnology  Devoted to Education and Outreach  Annually, nearly 100 graduate students carry out experiments  Undergraduate (REU) and high school programs (UW- PEOPLE) emphasize reaching underrepresented minorities  Web-based experiments allow high school and college students to take data remotely utilizing Aladdin storage ring from their classrooms

3 Diversity  2006 Snapshot –Staff  Professional/Technical: Women: E&O Director, Beamline Scientist, Electrical Engineer; Minority: Asian: Vacuum, Machinist, Operator, two students  Have had a woman and hispanic as Interim Scientific Directors

4 Diversity Activities  Clearly, we have a long way to go  Staffing is very static and we’ve gone through layoffs because of budget constraints  Union rules limit flexibility for recruitment  Layoff rules also involve seniority, but do allow skill set considerations  Proactive recruiting  Targeted advertising, monitoring graduation data bases, minority and women in science publications, etc.  But most successful – “non-crisis hiring”  Start the process before critical need – planning ahead  Aim at entry level positions  First search not successful, start over  Successfully hired female engineer and a female engineer replacement  Long Term  Actively part of University Diversity Initiative  Focused education activities to under-represented groups

5 Graduate School Equity and Diversity Committee  To promote diversity among students, staff and faculty in the Graduate School Research Centers  Graduate School – administrative home for SRC and other interdisciplinary research units  Graduate Dean is also Vice Chancellor for Research – Chief Research Officer for UW-Madison  SRC Involvement  SRC Ed Director is current Chair  SRC Director member

6 Diversity Planning  Produced a reference guide – called “An Equity and Diversity Toolkit”  Guidance on how to develop equity and diversity plans  Guidelines for improving retention and building welcoming work environments  Identifies resources both on campus and on line – addresses goals and challenges  Annually updated diversity plan – using “Toolkit”

7 Diversity Planning – Activities

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9 SRC Climate and Diversity Committee  Established lab Climate and Diversity Committee on recommendation of Grad School committee  Activities  Carried out climate survey  Digested survey and provided recommendations  Provided advice on employee yearly evaluation process  Organizes outside training

10 Education and Outreach Activities  Major component of diversity mission  Targeted education activities  Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) targeted to under-represented groups  UW-Madison’s Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE)  Also, working to develop partnership with Historically Black College or University (HBCU)  Derailed by hurricane, discussions with Xavier University of Louisiana administration re-opened in spring 2007  Student recruited for summer 2007 REU program

11 Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU)  Started summer, 2002 with one student - grown to five undergraduate students each summer  With focus on providing a meaningful research experience for underrepresented women and minority students  Selection process gives special attention to personal statement and non-research university candidates

12 Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU)  Partnered with University of Wisconsin-Madison summer programs-allow our students to interact with a broad community of students in different fields of research Assistant Dean Dorothy Sanchez discussing graduate school options with students.

13 UW P.E.O.P.L.E. Program  Designed to enhance campus diversity  Emphasizes enrichment in math, science, and writing  Students learn study skills, test preparation, and career options  Students who complete the pre-college portion of the program and are accepted to UW-Madison receive a tuition scholarship Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence.

14 Three-Week Summer Course  Properties of light, effect of filters, color, polarizers, waves, and particles  The E&M Spectrum – cell phones, GPS, X-rays, GMRS radios  Absorption, Reflection, Transmission, Fluorescence  Atomic energy levels, gas tubes, and spectrometers  Spreadsheet operation and data processing  Safety discussions  Diffraction gratings and constructing a personal visible light spectrometer  Real data taken from the classroom using a remote connection  Research data taken at the SRC