Bringing the MCQST Community Together

In its first year, MCQST developed a number of programs to strengthen its scientific community. At MCQST, we believe in the strength of an open atmosphere and equal opportunity. In order to implement our goal to create and maintain an open atmosphere and equal opportunities for everyone we laid the basis of our diversity, equity, and inclusion measures in 2019. We approached the topic from two different angles: First, with a focus on anti-discrimination and creating a network and community of allies and active bystanders. Second, by supporting minorities within QST.

The Diversity in Leadership Program is an example of how we want to introduce an awareness for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion topics in the wider MCQST community. 17 outstanding junior researchers formed the first cohort of this program that focuses on educating future leaders in QST. Together they will take part in workshops on unconscious bias, conflict management and gender in physics, but will also reflect on their own values and responsibilities as future leaders in QST. To support women in the MCQST community, we had the first call for application for our MCQST mentoring program, which aims to connect female researchers on a PhD and postdoc level with specialists from academia and industry. Our events included a diversity coffee, a panel discussion on Academic career and family together with SFB 1032, and a Women@MCQST lunch.