Physics and Astronomy SEA Change

Our latest monthly update: mailchi.mp/01a135642166...

AAS 2026 Congressional Visits Day

This year, in partnership with @aapthq.bsky.social, we're bringing scientists to DC from 13–15 April to advocate for the importance of science and education. No prior policy experience is required. Apply by 1 February 2026: ow.ly/mb4x50XKV87

@policy.aas.org 🔭

We are excited to announce our latest awardee! This is some of the news we were teasing last year- we wanted to ensure the good news didn't get lost!

A residential street burned in Pacific Palisades back in January during the fires.

The Year in Photos

What a year it was. To cap it off, we offer you a snapshot of the most consequential people, places and events that shook higher education in 2025. https://bit.ly/4pJOVTk

Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, a light-skinned woman with blond hair, wearing a red suit, speaks at a podium.

Youngkin Loses Battle Over Virginia Board Picks https://bit.ly/3YjEOZo

mailchi.mp/6cdf6378d6ea... Our last monthly update for 2025!

It has been an exceptionally challenging year for so many people, including those working on our program to improve physics and astro environments so everyone can thrive. But we are still doing the work and will be in 2026.

The letters DEI against the background of what appears to be a wall with many cracks.

Chief Diversity Officers Report Stress Amid Shifting Roles https://bit.ly/4pdNlJ7

#EDUSky #HigherEd #AcademicSky

Advancing Physics Education Where Diversity Resides: The Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges (OPTYCs) - AAAS | IUSE Caption: Cohort 1 of the Creating Environments that Reach Every Student Program. Participants sort ideas during a brainstorming session. St. Louis, Jan. 2025. Our Vision We envision a future where two...

Check out this great article on "Advancing Physics Education Where Diversity Resides: The Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges (#OPTYCs)". ➡ ow.ly/5jZA50XAkkv #TwoYearCollegePhysics #PhysicsEducation

If you want to give specifically to us, click on the box to “Dedicate this gift”, select “In honor of”, and note P/A SEA Change.

For #GivingTuesday, please consider @aapthq.bsky.social who not only continued championing physics education but also went above & beyond to sustain P/A SEA Change, notably @alevickna.bsky.social, after grant termination. Donate here: bit.ly/DonateAAPT

P/A SEA Change Cohort 5 Application Thank you for your interest in being part of the Physics and Astronomy SEA Change program. This program seeks to support postsecondary physics and astronomy departments in United States (US) or US te...

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... Cohort 5 is still seeking physics and astronomy dpts in the US seeking to do a deep dive to remove unnecessary barriers through a data-informed, self-directed action plan. Feel free to reach out @alevickna.bsky.social with any questions!

Just a reminder!

One of our exciting announcements is we have another awardee, rounding out 2025 with 4 Bronze awardees!

Do you teach physics and need support? Consider applying to the Bauder fund for assistance with special physics teaching activities. Apply by December 1st for consideration at the 2026 AAPT Winter Meeting. Learn more at ow.ly/7y4x50VRp8Q #AAPTFunding #AAPTGrants

A campus photo of Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago, Nebraska.

For One Tribal College, $5M Gift is Transformative

Little Priest Tribal College in Nebraska is the latest higher education institution to receive a donation from MacKenzie Scott. It comes after Trump sought to drastically cut funding to tribal colleges. https://bit.ly/4risG89

P/A SEA Change Cohort 5 Application Thank you for your interest in being part of the Physics and Astronomy SEA Change program. This program seeks to support postsecondary physics and astronomy departments in United States (US) or US te...

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... Those interested in structural change for your entire physics/astro departmental ecosystem, please take a look and consider joining our program! We have a few exciting announcements that we can make in the next month or so!

A reminder that we recruiting! If you are interested but have questions, @alevickna.bsky.social will be at the NSBP-NSHP meeting next week. Zoom is also an option, too!

Community College Leaders Dispute Carnegie Classification Carnegie’s new Student Access and Earnings Classification has stirred up controversy among community college advocates. Carnegie is standing by its approach.

The new Carnegie "Access and Earnings" classification was designed to acknowledge institutions that don't spend heavily on research or confer doctorates but still drive opportunity for students. So why are community colleges so upset? @saraweissman.insidehighered.com has the scoop: bit.ly/4qUAgpw

mailchi.mp/44e3c01f9c78... Our monthly update! Short but lots happening behind the scenes, namely review panels.

The cat photo is both for National Cat Day and also because he was adopted the day after we onboarded our first cohort!

A black and white cat lies on a duvet on bed in the sun. The cat is partially asleep

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... Reminder we are recruiting for our 5th cohort! Phys/Astro departments in the US or US Territories seeking to take a deep dive into data-informed, realistic action planning should consider applying!

P/A SEA Change Cohort 5 Application Thank you for your interest in being part of the Physics and Astronomy SEA Change program. This program seeks to support postsecondary physics and astronomy departments in United States (US) or US te...

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... We are excited to start with another cohort of physics and astronomy departments seeking to remove unnecessary barriers! If interested, please consider applying for cohort 5 today!

@aip.bsky.social has been a fantastic partner on P/A SEA Change, and we are grateful that they have funded us in the past and now.

mailchi.mp/7d7490b91329... Another month has come and gone. We are still working hard and supporting departments who are interested in doing the work to be better.

If you are interested in having your phys/astro department in the US or US Territories be part of cohort 5, let's chat!

A green space with bushes and trees and a helix sculpture next to a beige building.

After a long hiatus, AIP's postdoc position for historians of the physical sciences is back!

3 years, $77,500 per year + benefits. Work in the Washington, DC area, close to Univ of Maryland. Open to US citizens/permanent residents. Apply by Nov. 15! #histsci

workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/defau...

Do you smell that? 😌 ☕ It's coffee.

The coffee we serve at Optica meetings, coffee as a subject of research, coffee in your coffee, and, we hope, coffee in an Opticat mug.

Happy #InternationalCoffeeDay, where we're celebrating how a little caffeine goes a long way: https://bit.ly/4gUUZFe 💡

A crowdsourced database tracks US science grant cancellations Increasing transparency and informing advocacy and litigation efforts are the main goals of the online resource, which monitors the status of funds awarded by NSF and NIH.

Grant cancellations by NSF this year are being tracked in a database called Grant Witness. The volunteer-run site has been used in litigation and science advocacy efforts and regularly updates grant statuses as court cases and appeals are announced.

Important work to better understand how to communicate the work.

Guide to CVs What is a CV? How is this different from a résumé? How do I start building a CV? All of these questions and more await within this guide!

What is a CV? How is this different from a résumé? How do I start building a CV? All of these questions and more await within this guide written by many of our authors! 🔭✨☄️
astrobites.org/2025/09/23/g...

AAS and 57 other science societies sent a letter to Congress today, expressing concern over provisions in the 7 August 2025 Executive Order titled "Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking." aas.org/press/letter... 🔭

#AAS247 Splinter Meeting proposal submission closes on Thursday, 25 September! Don’t miss your chance to organize a session at the 247th AAS meeting (4–8 January 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona).

👉 Submit proposals: aas.org/meetings/aas247/splinter-meetings 🔭