APS-IDEA FAQs

Who is eligible to apply to the APS-IDEA network?
Organizations, individuals, or collaborations whose mission is similar to APS-IDEA, and who are interested in aligning efforts as partners in a social movement are eligible to apply.

We welcome teams from physics departments, laboratories, and collaborations of at least five physicists to join and participate in the APS-IDEA online learning community and attend the virtual network workshops.

Does participation in APS-IDEA have a cost?
APS-IDEA is one of the largest DEI networks serving the physics community. Our formal programming is fully virtual and includes semesterly network-wide events that focus on big ideas and meeting new people, as well as monthly small group meetings that delve into more nuanced conversations among participants, facilitated by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) experts. APS-IDEA brings teams together in an online environment to share experiences, build relationships, discuss various DEI initiatives and reports, participate in leadership development activities, learn about theories of change, and discuss ways to achieve DEI efforts within their organizations. Each team receives support and facilitation to assist their efforts. The yearly fee to participate in the network is $1,000. We do offer partial and full fee waivers for organizations that are in need.

Can international teams apply to the APS-IDEA network?
Teams based inside and outside the United States are welcome to apply to the network!

Can multiple teams from the same organization apply to the APS-IDEA Network?
APS-IDEA seeks to foster collaboration within and across physics organizations. We encourage similarly aligned projects from the same organization to submit a joint team application.

Is there an upper or lower limit to the number of participants on a team?
We do not prescribe a set number of members for a team, but find that many effective teams have at least five members. The actual number that will work for your team is up to you and depends on your organizational context.

How does the APS-IDEA project define a team?
We define a team as individuals working towards a shared goal: advancing DEI in their organization through participation in APS-IDEA. Team members should span the constituencies who will be affected by the proposed changes, taking care to share leadership with faculty, staff, students, postdocs.

Who should be on a team?
APS-IDEA strongly encourages shared leadership: the team should include representation from the relevant groups affected by DEI. In an academic setting, this includes students (both undergraduate and graduate), postdocs, and staff, as well as faculty.

Teams should consist of at least two permanent employees of the institution or organization they represent and their leadership should be committed to supporting the program they build - we have found that many effective teams have at least five members. The actual number that will work for your team is up to you and depends on your organizational context.

Can student-only teams join APS-IDEA?
We encourage students to reach out to other members of their department to form a team. Successful teams often include a representative from most departmental groups, including students (undergrad and grad), staff, junior and senior faculty. In addition, teams will need a letter of support from department/lab/collaboration leadership (e.g. chair, department head, etc).

Can individuals join the APS IDEA network?
All project activities, including the Online Learning Communities and virtual workshops are currently limited to APS-IDEA teams.

How many team members should plan to attend the APS-IDEA Team Workshops?
We welcome all team members to attend the workshops. In the event that all team members can not attend, we encourage teams to select at least two members to represent the team at each virtual workshop. APS-IDEA encourages teams not to send the same members to each meeting, and instead to rotate attendance so that different team members can benefit from participation.

If you have any questions, please contact the APS-IDEA staff.