Broadening participation in science and technology

At FRIB, we built the most powerful heavy-ion accelerator, which is one-of-a-kind in the world. It has the promise to enable great science. Scientific discoveries are made by humans, enabled by technology. To make world-leading discoveries, FRIB needs the nation’s and the world’s brightest minds.

FRIB commits itself to fostering a safe and diverse work and research environment which values respect and personal integrity. Scientific users, students, and employees at the FRIB Laboratory share a common interest—to contribute to society through scientific discovery. This is best achieved when everyone is included and valued, in a welcoming and respectful environment that advances excellence and fosters participation.

As a DOE-SC user facility, FRIB’s inclusive and broad approach supports the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science's commitment to broadening participation in solving science problems by training a highly skilled research workforce that draws from the best minds across the nation’s full spectrum of backgrounds.

Partnerships with a large variety of institutions to broaden participation

FRIB broadens participation in science and technology endeavors through wide-ranging outreach activities that engage local, state, national, and international participants.  

The unique dance and science performance “Of Equal Place: Isotopes in Motion,” was a mass collaboration between FRIB, the Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University (MSU), Dance Exchange (Takoma Park, Maryland), Happendance (Okemos, Michigan), Women and Minorities in Physical Sciences (WaMPS) community members (East Lansing, Michigan), and students from Everett High School and Dwight Rich School of the Arts (Lansing, Michigan).

Additionally, FRIB offers tours to public schools, private schools, homeschools, community groups, and interested members of the public, from both the region and across the state and nation.  

Internationally, FRIB has established with the French research organization, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the International Research Laboratory on Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics (IRL NPA) at FRIB. FRIB also participates in EUROpean Laboratories for Accelerator Based Science (EURO-LABS) to bring together researchers across nuclear physics and high-energy physics communities. The United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is funding the FAUST (FRIB Accelerated-beams for Understanding Science and Technology) instrument, which will enable new experiments at FRIB.

Partnering with Minority Serving Institutions (MSI)

FRIB works to increase representation through an integrated set of programs from middle school to faculty placement with Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), with other programs in place to broaden participation in science and technology that serves the needs of society.

Programs

  • Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation: Exploring the Nuclear Matter (PING)– Summer (two weeks) and academic year (nine months)
    • For middle-school and high-school students
    • Exposure to basic and applied nuclear science
    • Conference networking and mentoring from undergraduate students
    • Collaboration with National Society of Black Physicists, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and Associated Universities Inc. to focus on multiple levels of physics and astronomy
  • Students Training and Engagement Program for Undergraduates in Physics (STEP-UP)
    • For middle-school, high-school, undergraduate/graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows
    • Exposure to the fields of physics and astronomy to cultivate interest in physics
    • Mentoring and advising for lifelong benefits
    • National organization of physics teachers, researchers, and professional societies from MSI community
  • PEGASUS/Director Research Scholars (DRS) – Two-day visit
    • For undergraduate students
    • Exposure to MSU physics and nuclear-physics programs
    • Partnering institutions: Green Bank Telescope, FRIB, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Michigan State University, Yale University, Purdue University, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Servicing Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities
  • Physics Immersion – Summer (two weeks)
    • For undergraduate/graduate students
    • Pre-training/skills building prior to attending summer research
    • Mentoring program for transition to graduate school
    • MSU Summer Research Opportunities Program/Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate
  • Institute for Nuclear Science to Inspire the next Generation of a Highly Trained workforce (INSIGHT)
    • For undergraduate/graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
    • Created to measure progress and coordinate longitudinal tracking of trainees’ progression towards science and technology careers
    • Current partners: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (nine) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (two)
  • MSI fellowship – One-year transition program
    • For graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
    • Postdocs/graduate students transition to faculty position at MSIs
    • Current partners: Virginia State University, Morgan State University, and Dillard University

Assessment

INSIGHT measures progress and coordinates longitudinal tracking of trainees’ progression towards science and technology careers.

FRIB internal resources

FRIB’s education and development program—Diversifying Rare Isotopes to Promote Learning and Inspire new Engineers, Scientists and Staff (DRIPLINES2)—is open to FRIB faculty, staff, administrators, and students.

The objectives for DRIPLINES2 include providing foundational understanding of diversity and belonging in higher education and building a community of practice within FRIB that advances excellence and a sense of participation for those who learn and work within the facility.