DEIA Initiatives and Organizational Efforts at the PSFC

In early 2023, a grassroots effort of students, staff, and faculty led to the formation of a Working Group for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC). Our mission is to draw DEIA ideas and concerns from the entire PSFC community, and to be a source of advice and advocacy to PSFC leadership for DEIA efforts. In this talk, we discuss our organizational strategy, goal ideation and execution, as well as some lessons learned. Current efforts focus on increasing diversity in invited seminar speakers, promoting inclusion and accessibility at the PSFC, and the creation of a post-graduate program for folks from underrepresented minority populations. The PSFC also has a new Assistant Director for Career Development and Community Building, who will advocate and support these ongoing DEIA efforts.