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questions [2021/04/28 21:43] jthaler [What is yet another good practice problem for the MIT Nuclear/Particle Theory oral qualifying exam?] |
questions [2021/12/10 02:57] (current) jthaler [What are some things I should aim to achieve during my PhD?] |
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| * Ask a question at a research seminar/colloquium | * Ask a question at a research seminar/colloquium | ||
| * Read the [[https://arxiv.org/|arXiv]] on a semi-regular basis | * Read the [[https://arxiv.org/|arXiv]] on a semi-regular basis | ||
| - | * Have a favorite textbook on Quantum Field Theory (which may or may not be [[http://admin.cambridge.org/academic/subjects/physics/theoretical-physics-and-mathematical-physics/quantum-field-theory-and-standard-model|this]]) | + | * Have a favorite textbook on Quantum Field Theory (which may or may not be [[https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/quantum-field-theory-and-the-standard-model/A4CD66B998F2C696DCC75B984A7D5799|this]]) |
| * Become familiar with the Review of Particle Physics from the [[http://pdg.lbl.gov/|Particle Data Group]] | * Become familiar with the Review of Particle Physics from the [[http://pdg.lbl.gov/|Particle Data Group]] | ||
| * Attend a physics summer school | * Attend a physics summer school | ||
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| He/him/his. | He/him/his. | ||
| - | I have debated many times with myself about whether I should put this information in my email signature. "Jesse" is a somewhat gender ambiguous name, and I don't mind (too much) when people add an extra "i" by mistake. It feels a bit uncomfortable to assert my gender at this point in my career when the gender ambiguity in my name (and in my past [[http://v1.jthaler.net/photos/images/2002.05.C/dance_rig.jpg|hairstyle]]) was part of my experience growing up. Also, physics is a rather male-dominated field, and I worry that providing my pronouns would somehow reinforce male-ness as the default for a physics professor, though I also appreciate that my reticence is probably doing so implicitly. | + | I have debated many times with myself about whether I should put this information in my email signature, and I finally decided to add this information in October 2021, for reasons I explain below. |
| - | In any case, I do like the way that providing pronouns signals an aspiration towards a more diverse and inclusive physics environment. As I often tell my students: there are as many ways to be a successful physicist as there are successful physicists. So while I don't currently give my preferred pronouns, my email signature does have a link to the [[https://physics.mit.edu/about-physics/community-values/|MIT Physics Community Values]]. | + | First, let me explain my long hesitation. "Jesse" is a somewhat gender ambiguous name, and I don't mind (too much) when people add an extra "i" by mistake. It felt a bit uncomfortable to assert my gender at this point in my career when the gender ambiguity in my name (and in my past [[http://v1.jthaler.net/photos/images/2002.05.C/dance_rig.jpg|hairstyle]]) was part of my experience growing up. Also, physics is a rather male-dominated field, and I worried that providing my pronouns would somehow reinforce male-ness as the default for a physics professor, though I also appreciated that my reticence was probably doing so implicitly. I do like the way that providing pronouns signals an aspiration towards a more diverse and inclusive physics environment. As I often tell my students: there are as many ways to be a successful physicist as there are successful physicists. So while I didn't give my preferred pronouns, my email signature did (and still does) have a link to the [[https://physics.mit.edu/about-physics/community-values/|MIT Physics Community Values]]. |
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| + | What made me change my mind to include my pronouns? I received an email from a student who put not only their pronouns but also the pronunciation of their name in their email signature. In the same way that misgendering a person is disrespectful, mispronouncing their name is as well. Providing this information seemed like a positive (albeit small) step towards making the physics community more welcome. So while I didn't go so far as to create an [[https://diversity.lbl.gov/2020/09/15/how-do-you-pronounce-your-name-add-an-audio-pronunciation-link-to-your-email/|audio version of my name]], I now state both my pronouns (he/him/his) and my pronunciation (JEH-see THAY-lr) in my signature. | ||