BYU Women Represent at CUWiP 2024

The Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) is an event designed to help young women network and build empowering relationships across universities. The conference, hosted by the American Physical Society (APS), was held in fourteen separate locations that invited hundreds of undergraduate students to learn together and celebrate their accomplishments. BYU’s Physics and Astronomy Department sent twenty-one students and two faculty members to the conference at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, which was the largest number of attendees from a single organization. Throughout the three-day conference, students listened to keynote speakers, presented their research, and attended panels that focused on work-life balance, preparing for graduate studies, and diversity in the workplace.

 

Anyone familiar with advanced STEM classes knows that very few women take these classes compared to men. This presents a unique challenge to young women, that being they can often feel alone, which causes discouragement and isolation. The CUWiP conference helps students make connections with others like them. Dr. Traci Neilsen of BYU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy explained, “the conference helped our students to feel like they do belong in physics and see themselves as Physicists and Astronomers.” Dr. Denise Stephens, also from the department and a panelist at the event, said, "it's empowering to know that you're not alone… I think that the power of CUWiP is seeing all these women in all these career positions." 

 

Presenting and networking are large parts of academic research, but can be hard to learn without direct experience. CUWiP provides an incredibly supportive environment for undergraduate students to present. Four students from BYU presented posters and three gave talks. During the talks, the audiences were engaged and excited to ask questions, and the poster session attendees were enthusiastic and genuine. Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, but CUWiP has made itself a wonderful place to practice. Maia, an undergrad from BYU who gave a research talk, said that “the presentation sessions at CUWiP made me feel as part of the scientific community in a very big way, helping me feel like I was in the right place and around other people like me.” 

 

Conferences such as this are vital in overcoming the gender discrepancy in STEM fields because they provide a space where women feel like they belong. Perri, one of the students who presented a poster, said she was able to “overcom[e] the anxiety of networking because it was such a supportive and uplifting environment.” The APS also announced the creation of the Gender Inclusive Physics Community and invited all CUWiP attendees to become inaugural members. Efforts such as these are vital in overcoming a history of gender discrimination within the sciences. Abi Mae, another student who gave a research talk, said that as we “get to know [our] fellow women in physics… we can all support each other even as we are at different schools.” By providing an opportunity for undergraduates to go to CUWiP, BYU has played a role in helping women in physics to thrive.



Authors: 

Kaelyn Clement
Maia Anna Nelsen
Timothy David Morrell
Tanner D. Rydalch

News and Events

Image for BYU’s Rising Astronomers Take Center Stage at the Winter AAS Conference
In early January 2025, a group of 16 students from Brigham Young University’s Physics & Astronomy Department showcased their research at the prestigious American Astronomical Society (AAS) in National Harbor, Maryland.
Image for Acoustics group studies the roar of SpaceX's Starship
Acoustics faculty and students measure the thunderous noise of the world’s most powerful rocket, exploring its impact on communities and the environment.
Image for Gus Hart Receives the Karl G. Maeser Research and Creative Arts Award
Dr. Gus Hart received the 2024 Karl G. Maeser Research and Creative Arts Award for his work in computational material science and his continued innovation in computational methods.
Image for Astronomers Discover New Course
This winter, ten students in BYU’s new “Advanced Planetary Astrophysics” taught by Darin Ragozzine course gained hands-on experience in planetary science research, mastering interdisciplinary skills to prepare for future careers in astronomy.
Image for New Applied Physics Major with an Emphasis in Data Science
Starting Fall 2025, BYU will offer a new Applied Physics: Data Science major that combines rigorous physics training with data science skills to prepare students for the growing demand in data-driven careers.
Image for The Physics of Life
BYU's new Biological Physics course introduces students to the physics behind biological processes, fostering interdisciplinary skills to tackle complex biological questions.
Image for Dr. Kent Gee Receives Top faculty Award
Dr. Kent Gee has been named the recipient of the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award
Image for Drs. Davis and Vanfleet Receive Technology Transfer Award
BYU Physics and Astronomy Professors Dr. Davis and Dr. Vanfleet recently received the 2024 award for outstanding achievement in technology transfer from the BYU Technology Transfer Office.
Image for New Acoustics Major
The BYU Physics & Astronomy department recently introduced the Applied Physics: Acoustics degree.
Image for Chris Verhaaren Creates Particle Physics Class
After 3 years of being offered as 513R, elementary particle physics is finally an official course and accepted for credit in the physics major!
Image for A Practical Scientist’s Field Guide to Dealing with Science and Religion.
Dr. Michael Ware hopes to help students develop the skills to navigate discussion of science and religion
Image for Kent Gee Forum: Lessons from Noise, Crackle to Calm
This year’s Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, Kent Gee, delivered his forum address on the science of sound and how he and BYU students have contributed to significant research in the acoustics industry.
Image for Campbell and Stokes Receive Crystallographic Association Award
In July 2025, Drs. Branton Campbell and Harold Stokes (BYU Emeritus Professor) will receive the Kenneth N. Trueblood Award from the American Crystallographic Association for exceptional achievement in computational crystallography.
Image for New ESC Weather Station
A group of undergraduate students braved the heat and heights of the ESC roof to install a new weather station. The station is up and running, and will hopefully record data for years to come.
Image for Study analyzes distant Kuiper Belt object with NASA's Hubble data
Using data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, a new study suggests that an object previously thought to be a binary system may be a rare triple system of orbiting bodies.