APS Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance

Applications to join our network are closed. Please join the APS-IDEA mailing list to receive status updates and news.

The APS Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (APS-IDEA) is a new initiative with a mission of empowering and supporting physics departments, laboratories, and other organizations to identify and enact strategies for improving equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). It will do so by establishing a community of transformation.

Join our team of physics organizations as we unite to transform the culture of physics.
An IDEA for Physics Organizations
APS-IDEA Virtual Meeting
Meet the Steering Committee
Logic Model

Apply to Join the APS-IDEA Network

Team applications to join our network are currently closed. Due to overwhelming interest, we're unable to accept any more applications through the end of 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions: If you have questions about the initiative, see the FAQs page.

If you have any questions, please contact idea@aps.org.

Participating APS-IDEA teams

How APS-IDEA Works

Our vision is that as a result of collective efforts, physics and related fields will become more inclusive of all social identities, with a diversity reflective of the nation, and with an equitable distribution of opportunities and resources.

The network will provide a supportive environment to:

  • exchange ideas, information, and experiences
  • deepen knowledge of research and effective practices
  • develop or improve EDI strategic plans
  • discuss various EDI initiatives and reports from physics and related disciplines
  • learn about theories of change
  • begin planning IDEA’s programs

This is achieved through guiding principles of:

  • centering people whose identities are marginalized
  • utilizing sensemaking, including creating brave spaces
  • implementing research-based transformational methods
  • sharing leadership across levels; from students up to faculty

Empowering Teams to Create Change

At its core, APS-IDEA seeks to empower teams of physicists at all career stages and build their capacity to transform the culture of physics within their organizations and ultimately across the entire profession, through advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in their places of work and study. We define empowered teams as having three characteristics: a) Team members understand and enact APS-IDEA guiding principles, b) Team is well positioned to lead change in their department, and c) Team is well connected and has resources to support their work. Indicators that a team exemplifies these characteristics can be found next to each characteristic.

APS-IDEA has been designed to support our teams, which are currently highly engaged, to attain greater empowerment. APS-IDEA members benefit from shared community ideas and support, online access to resources, and facilitation to accelerate team results. Our theory of change is essentially that empowered teams will drive cultural change and improve JEDI in their respective departments.

Team characteristic Indicators
1) Team members understand and enact APS-IDEA Guiding Principles
  • Team has developed and utilizes norms for shared leadership
  • Team has created and utilizes norms for centering marginalized voices
  • Team regularly utilizes sensemaking in discussions
  • Team is knowledgeable about and utilizes cognitive, cultural or political strategies to foster “second-order” change
2) Team is well positioned to lead change in their department
  • Team membership includes department leaders and influencers
  • Team has direct contact with institutional leaders
  • Team has an explicit role in advising / deciding department activities
  • Team has visibility / recognition for its work
3) Team is well connected and has resources to support their work
  • Team actively engages with other APS-IDEA teams to bolster support
  • Team is in contact with relevant experts at their institution and beyond
  • JEDI work is explicitly valued in department policies and practices
  • Department funding is available to support team member participation


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This project is sponsored by the APS Innovation Fund, AIP Diversity Action Fund, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and private donations.