Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies

The Marston Science Library is pleased to host Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein for a virtual speaking engagement. In this talk, Dr. Prescod-Weinstein will provide an interdisciplinary perspective on the evolution of “diversity and inclusion” as a legal and institutional concept, and discuss the demographic challenges astronomy and physics face as we move into the roaring 2020s. After her talk, Dr. Michelle Nolan (Chemical Sciences Librarian, Marston Science Library) will facilitate a question and answer discussion prioritizing the voices of students and community members.

If you are interested in reading Dr. Prescod-Weinstein’s book, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred, copies are available to UF affiliates at the Marston Science Library and available to the Gainesville community at the Alachua County Public Libraries. If you wish to purchase a copy of your own, we recommend supporting Gainesville’s local indie bookstore Third House Books by ordering through their website.

This event is free and open to the public, but seats are limited and pre-registration is required! Advance notice is necessary to satisfy some accessibility needs. To request accommodations for participating in our events, please contact Dr. Michelle Nolan at michellenolan@ufl.edu as early as possible.

This virtual speaking engagement is sponsored by the Marston Science Library; College of Engineering; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Center for Gender, Sexualities and Women’s Studies Research; Department of Astronomy; Department of Chemistry; and the Women in Science and Engineering student organization at the University of Florida. We are grateful for the contributions and enthusiasm of all our sponsors!

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and core faculty in women’s and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire. The author of The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred, she is also a columnist for New Scientist and Physics World. Her research in theoretical physics focuses on cosmology, neutron stars, and dark matter. She also does research in Black feminist science, technology, and society studies. Nature recognized her as one of 10 people who shaped science in 2020, and Essence magazine has recognized her as one of “15 Black Women Who Are Paving the Way in STEM and Breaking Barriers.” A cofounder of Particles for Justice, she received the 2017 LGBT+ Physicists Acknowledgement of Excellence Award for her contributions to improving conditions for marginalized people in physics and the 2021 American Physical Society Edward A. Bouchet Award for her contributions to particle cosmology. Originally from East L.A., she divides her time between the New Hampshire Seacoast and Cambridge, Massachusetts.