Social Topics in Physics: A New and Intersectional Physics Course

We created a conference-style course for undergraduate and graduate students with the purpose of increasing knowledge and awareness of social issues in physics and related STEM fields. In our course, titled “Social Topics in Physics,” students meet weekly to discuss readings on social difference and systems of power in the sciences. Our aim was to validate students’ life experiences and contributions to the class. Students were invited to share ideas and recommend articles for the class and to shape the weekly discussions by connecting the readings to their own experiences. Additionally, we tried to focus on intersections of difference and power in a way that promoted curiosity and compassion. This poster details the different resources and considerations that have made this physics course successful.