Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Diversity Outreach Coordinator
Dr. Colette Patt

The Science Diversity Office works with departments, faculty, staff and students to increase the number of women and underrepresented students in the physical sciences at Berkeley. Established in 1993, the Science Diversity office advocates for and provides an array of services to students. The Physical Sciences Division is a national leader in addressing the persistent problem of underrepresentation in the sciences in the US. Berkeley enrolls and graduates more underrepresented minorities with Ph.D.s in the sciences, mathematics and engineering than any other university.

Our staff is available to assist undergraduates and graduate students, as well as prospective students. We provide assistance applying to graduate school in the physical sciences. The Diversity Office also offers advocacy, advising and other resources and services for current students. The Science Diversity Office's objective in providing these services is to increase the diversity of the student population and the professoriate in the sciences. The Science Diversity Office is open to all students.

Physical & Biological Sciences Graduate Diversity Office

This office provides support services for prospective and current students including advising applicants on opportunities in a particular program, the admissions process, financial aid, and academic support services.

Contacts:

The Berkeley Edge

The Berkeley Edge (NSF-Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate) is a recruitment, retention and advancement program for traditionally underrepresented minority graduate students in science, mathematics and engineering. It is funded jointly by the National Science Foundation and UC Berkeley's College of Chemistry, College of Letters & Science Divisions of Biological and Physical Sciences, College of Engineering and the Graduate Division. The Berkeley Edge goal is to identify, recruit, retain, and assist in advancing talented minority students. Prospective students are invited to apply for the annual pre-application conference.

The Berkeley Edge assists current students with financial support and opportunities for networking and professional development. The Berkeley Edge provides information regarding campus resources. It also offers students with advising and advocacy services, when needed.

Contacts:

Physics Scholars Program

The Physics Scholars Program (PSP) is for undergraduates in the physics-based disciplines of Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Earth and Planetary Sciences. Through extensive collaborative work in problem solving workshops and intensive discussion sections, during which students often study in pairs or groups to solve honors-level problems, participants gain a sense of community with others who share an interest in the physical sciences. Members are also offered one-on-one and group tutoring, advising, and PSP-sponsored activities to academically and socially support the growth of their community.

Contacts:

Society for Women in the Physical Sciences

Society for Women in the Physical Sciences (SWPS) is a resource for Berkeley undergraduates majoring in the physical sciences (physics, astronomy, geology, and related fields). The society provides mentoring, workshops, discussion forums, resource "survival" guides, and encourage socializing with other women in these majors. SWPS sponsors a mentoring program and several events each semester. SWPS is always looking for new mentors and mentees, so if you are a Berkeley student or prospective student, sign up or come to an event to see what we're all about.

Contacts: