October Update: I won an award!
Dear readers,
Here are some updates from the “road” of doing writing and science! First of all, I responded to the copyedits of my book this past Monday, which means basically I completely finished the book (which, I’ll remind you, is available for preorder pretty much everywhere). The next stage is just looking at the proofs and catching wayward typos. It’s been quite the journey. I don’t know how to explain it. I really want some cake with buttercream, though. I’m actually going to ask the spouse for a cake when I’m done writing this.
Some writing updates
I’ve signed on as a contributing columnist at Physics World, and my first piece will be in the November 2020 issue. I believe (but need to check) that it will be available online without a paywall, one way or another. Also, I will be publishing a second essay simultaneously in Physics World and Physics Today on October 30 as part of #BlackInPhysics week. That will be publicly available, and my pay will be donated to African American Women in Physics (scroll to the bottom if you’d like to donate too).
Today I have a new piece out at Counterpunch with culture writer and philosopher Lawrence Ware, on Ava DuVernay, social media, politics, and loving the culture.
My most recently New Scientist Field Notes from Spacetime are:
Climate Change and big tech are jeopardising the future of astronomy (October)
Could we jump into a wormhole to save us from the world at present? (September)
Why dark matter should be called something else (August)
Elements from the universe’s earliest stars gave birth to our sun (July)
And some science updates
My first scientific paper with a graduate student that I am co-supervising was recently accepted for publication in Physical Review D. The published version will be slightly modified from what’s currently available at the arXiv.
AND I WON AN AWARD!
I found out a couple of weeks ago that I am the American Physical Society’s 2021 Edward A. Bouchet Award winner. From the website: “This award promotes the participation of underrepresented minorities in physics by identifying and recognizing a distinguished minority physicist who has made significant contributions to physics research and the advancement of underrepresented minority scientists.” In other words, this award recognizes the dual achievement of overcoming barriers in physics to make significant technical contributions to the field while also facilitating the advancement of underrepresented minorities in the field.
I was nominated by Alan Guth, with supporting letters from Geraldine Cochran, Tracy Slatyer, Tim Tait, and the late Ann Nelson. That nomination itself was an award. It feels like a huge achievement to have them submit the following citation:
For contributions to theoretical cosmology and particle physics, ranging from axion physics to models of inflation to alternative models of dark energy, for tireless efforts in increasing inclusivity in physics, and for co-creating the Particles for Justice movement.
I am the second Black woman to win the award. The first was last year, Nadya Mason.
The world is shit, but at least I’m succeeding occasionally and also there is Rooted Woman nail polish.
Oh and about that Liquid Chanda
The incredible Tanaïs is relaunching her makeup brand (formerly Hi Wildflower) with new face highlighters (or as I call them, LIP SHIMMERS), and she named one of them Liquid Chanda! Ahhhhh so cool!!! But actually even cooler is that all proceeds from sales will go to mutual aid in Brooklyn, where I have roots on both sides of my family. If you have to choose between my book and Liquid Chanda, buy some Liquid Chanda now and come back for The Disordered Cosmos later.
Thanks for reading this far down!
Dr. Chanda