Diversifying the Nuclear Physics Workforce: A Dream Or A Reality?

Historically, people from minoritized and marginalized ethnic/racial groups have been underrepresented in the U.S. nuclear physics community. To address this shortcoming, the U.S. Department of Energy recently proposed a paradigm shift to facilitate unique collaborations between higher education institutions and/or national facilities, and Minority Serving Institutions. The primary goal of this effort is to recruit and retain undergraduate students from marginalized and minoritized ethnic/racial groups to consider careers in basic or applied professions in nuclear physics by providing targeted environments ranging from research opportunities (e.g., traineeships) to dedicated undergraduate nuclear physics tracks, and mentoring. The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams of Michigan State University established the Institute for Nuclear Science to Inspire the Next Generation of a Highly Trained workforce (INSIGHT) to assist in coordinating this nationwide effort, including an overall assessment across all awardees. A review on the components and present status of this initiative will be presented and discussed.