African Americans are disproportionately underrepresented among degree recipients in these fields, and for the first time, we have evidence that identifies why this underrepresentation persists and what we can do to help reverse this alarming trend.

Our TEAM-UP Report concludes that the persistent underrepresentation of African American students in physics and astronomy is due to unsupportive environments in some physics departments, and the enormous financial challenges faced by many of these students and the programs that best support them.

TEAM-UP Together is a collective action initiative of the AIP federation, led by American Institute of Physics, American Association of Physics Teachers, American Astronomical Society, American Physical Society and the Society of Physics Students to support the scientific community to take the next bold step in doubling the number of African American students earning physics and astronomy bachelor’s degrees annually by 2030.

To achieve these ends, we will need a multi-layered approach that engages a variety of stakeholders within the scientific ecosystem, including faculty, departments, institutions, professional societies, funding organizations, policy leaders, and more.

The lead partners will work together throughout this initiative to utilize their unique expertise that they can bring to the table to create systemic change.

There are two main components of TEAM-UP Together:

• Student scholarship program: Provides direct funding to African American physics and astronomy undergraduate students attending HBCU’s or PBIs; administered through the Society of Physics Students.
   
• Departmental program: Provides funding to physics and astronomy departmental efforts and programs that prioritize and support successful outcomes for African American undergraduates in these fields.
   

TEAM-UP Together is a brand new initiative. Please check back frequently as we update this site with more information.