What do the 2015 Oscar Nominations Have in Common with Applied Physics?

摘要

It is not Eddie Redmayne's new movie, The Theory of Everything, based on Stephen Hawking's life. It is the appalling lack of diversity among award winners in both Hollywood and labs across the country. The all-white list of 20 Oscar nominees for best and supporting actor and actress, and all-male list of nominated directors and screen writers brought sharp criticism from the media. Yet, the fact that no doctoral awards in applied physics, atomic physics, plasma/fusion physics, and astronomy were made in either 2012 or 2013 seems to lack complete attention in the media or the scientific community. According to the 2013 Survey of Earned Doctorates from the National Science Foundation, 1,806 doctoral degrees were awarded in the fields of wildlife/range management, zoology, astronomy, geochemistry, geomorphology, paleontology, oceanography, ocean and marine science, applied physics, atomic physics, plasma/fusion physics, nuclear engineering, Spanish, Asian history, Classics, archaeology, film studies, and music performance. As reported by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, none of the 1,806 doctoral degrees in these fields was awarded to an African American.