TEAM-UP Together Expanding eXpertise, Championing Excellence and Leadership (TU-T EXCEL) has awarded Albion College’s Physics Department a $200,000 grant to foster inclusion in physics and astronomy.

TEAM-UP Together is a collaboration of the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Astronomical Society, the American Institute of Physics, the American Physical Society, and the Society of Physics Students. It aims to drive systemic change in the physical sciences community and increase successful outcomes for Black and African American students pursuing physics and astronomy undergraduate degrees. 

TU-T EXCEL said it was inspired by the Physics Department’s project, titled Albion College: Belonging, Resilience, Retention, and Identity Through Robotics (AC BRRIT Robotics), which expands the education and support of students. Its focus on African Americans earning bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy will serve as a model of success for the wider community.

“Your department’s commitment to nurturing historically underserved undergraduate students and producing successful strategies that can be replicated in other institutions is highly aligned with the overarching goals of the TU-T program,” the award letter stated. “We are excited to support your work and look forward to spotlighting the transformative and positive outcomes your initiatives will create for students facing the starkest barriers in physics and astronomy.”

Demian Cho, assistant professor in the Physics Department and lead of AC BRRIT Robotics, said the grant will support the department’s efforts to increase the number of African American students earning degrees in physics and astronomy.

“The $200,000 grant for the next two years can help us recruit local talent, build physics/engineering identity and persistence, and build pipelines to local industry,” Cho said. “The plan focuses on the first two years of college programs centered around robotics. We hope this program will help increase the number of African American students and create a model that can be implemented in other places.”

Nicolle Zellner, chair of the Physics Department, added, “I am really excited about receiving this grant. As noted in the Team-up Together documents, the lack of representation by African Americans in the field of physics is a national issue, and receipt of this grant will help to address this issue at the local level. Partnerships with Innovate Albion and Concord Middle School will enhance these efforts by building relationships with community partners.”