The Office of Science and Fusion Energy Sciences DEIA and Workforce Development Activities

Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (SC) has established the Office of Scientific Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (SW-DEI) to lead SC initiatives to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) within the scientific community. This initiative has led to the implementation of several new programs, such as the Funding for Accelerated Inclusive Research (FAIR) and Reaching a New Energy Workforce (RENEW), which aim to support and promote diversity in scientific research. Additionally, SC now requires the inclusion of a Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) Plan in a funding application. The impact of these progressive initiatives on the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program office will be examined, with a focus on lessons learned and valuable insights gained. Furthermore, this discussion will encompass the evaluation of FES's workforce development portfolio, identification of any existing gaps, and the identification of areas that can be further improved. It is crucial to emphasize that feedback from the fusion and plasma science communities is highly encouraged, as FES seeks to engage in a collaborative effort to enhance inclusivity and diversity within its research endeavors.