Diversity remains limited in the physical sciences. Why is it important for the scientific community to be more representative of the population at large? Why are certain groups under-represented? How can diversity be increased? In this talk, I will focus on the modern understandings of challenges to diversity, like stereotype-threat and unconscious bias. I will also examine present findings on the status of women and racial minorities specific to the physics community.

Pratt Institute and Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York