Who is invited to attend CUWiP?
Any undergraduate student with an interest in physics may apply to attend a CUWiP. For the last decade, Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) has helped undergraduate women thrive in physics by providing them a with a unique opportunity to engage with and learn from other women in physics at all stages of their physics careers. At CUWiP, budding physicists will experience a professional conference, learn about graduate school and professions in physics, and share invaluable experiences, advice, and ideas with other women. Undergraduate students are eligible to apply and register for the conference, and we encourage non-undergraduate students or interested faculty/mentors to email cuwip@northwestern.edu for details about attendance and participation.
What will increase my chances of being accepted to the conference?
First, make sure you submit your application by the deadline. Second, make sure you put some thought into why you want to attend and what you want to get out of the conference. Please answer all questions on the application fully and honestly. Offering to present a talk or a poster will not affect your chances of being selected to attend.
How much does the conference cost?
Students who are accepted to attend the conference must pay a one-time registration fee of $45, which helps offset some of the cost of the conference, including all lodging and meals. If you cannot afford the registration fee and your department/college is unable to help, you may request a fee waiver by submitting a statement attesting to your financial need and verifying that department or university funds are not available. Further details will be provided when you are invited to register for the conference. You must request a fee waiver at least two days in advance of registering.
Lodging (for non-local students) and food will be covered by the conference; you do not need to pay for your hotel room or food at the conference. We expect that your travel expenses will be covered by your home department or college. However, if they are not able to cover these expenses, travel funding is available.
How do I know the amount my department will contribute to my travel funding?
Please talk to your department chair, manager, or director of undergraduate studies before registering for CUWiP. You might ask an academic advisor, faculty member you know, or other mentor for guidance about who to ask if you are unsure. You can also contact us if you would like guidance in asking your department for travel funds.
Do I need to have research to present in order to attend the conference?
No. While we encourage you to present a talk or a poster if you have been involved in research, you are welcome just to attend the conference and participate in the activities.
I attended last year; can I come to this year’s conference, too?
The content of this year’s conference will not be exactly the same as last year’s, and you are welcome to apply to attend again. However, if more students apply than we can accommodate, preference will be given to students who have never attended a CUWiP.
I am a local student. Do I need to register?
Yes, all attendees must register by the deadline.
Can I attend the Northwestern University CUWiP even though it is not my closest location? For example, I am considering Northwestern University for grad school and would like to visit the school?
Because of the high demand of students and travel costs of those who are not in our region, we will only be able to accept students who will be in the region at the time of the conference. This conference is not intended to be a graduate school visit.
I’m a student from Canada. Can I apply to a U.S. region?
Students from Canada are encouraged to apply to the Canadian site. Students from Canada may apply to closer U.S. sites if desired. However, Canadian students accepted to U.S. sites are not eligible for reimbursement of travel expenses from the conference or for waiver of the registration fee.
I’m a student in a country other than the United States or Canada. Can I apply for CUWiP?
APS is only able to fund students attending universities in the U.S. We welcome students attending non-U.S. institutions to email our site at cuwip@northwestern.edu to ask if you can apply to attend. CUWiP sites will not be able to reimburse students attending non-U.S. institutions for accommodations or travel.
I’m a community college student. Am I eligible to apply to CUWiP?
Yes, undergraduate students at any U.S. college or university may apply.
I’m a high school student/grad student/postdoc/faculty member. Am I eligible to apply to CUWiP?
Only undergraduate students who will be over 18 at the time of the conference may apply to CUWiP.
I am transgender/gender-fluid/genderqueer/non-binary etc, can I attend this conference?
Yes, students of all genders are welcome to attend this conference. If you have questions or concerns about the housing for this conference, please contact us at cuwip@northwestern.edu.
How do I arrange travel?
Students are responsible for arranging their own travel to the conference. We encourage students to coordinate with other attendees from their institution. Please be in communication with your local chair or faculty member if your department is reimbursing you for travel costs. If your department cannot fund your travel, please contact us for plane and train ticket approval before purchase.
Can I come late? Can I leave early? Can I skip things that I’m not interested in?
Because your travel costs are reimbursable, it is expected that you will attend all of the conference events as scheduled. If you have special circumstances, please contact us to discuss them.
Where do I stay during the conference?
Students will be accommodated at the Hilton Orrington- Evanston. Please visit our Travel & Accommodation page for more information. If you are driving to the conference, please visit our page for more details. Do not make your own hotel reservations.
How can I get to and from the airport?
Please visit our Travel and Accommodations page.
We will help you with travel between airports and the Hilton Orrington- Evanston by organizing shuttles, or pointing you to commercial services. If you plan to fly, please contact us before making your reservation.
When will I get reimbursed for travel?
If you are being reimbursed by the conference (rather than by your department): after the conference, you can submit the reimbursement form that will be provided to you. Reimbursement will be mailed to you within the month. For more details please contact us.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
We will request dietary restriction information on the registration form. If you believe your dietary needs are unusual, please contact us and we will work to accommodate you.
What should I wear to the conference?
The conference has no dress code, and we encourage students to be comfortable. Business/business casual attire is not required. You may wish to look at photos of previous conferences to see what students typically wear.
Also, it is cold in Chicago, so please check the weather beforehand.
Will there be resources available for attendees with disabilities?
We will request information on disability status on the registration form. Please contact us in advance if you have unusual requirements, and we will work to accommodate you.
Can I connect with those going to the conference before arriving ?
Yes! We have set up a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & LinkedIn pages!
I have anxiety, depression, etc, and I am worried about attending this conference. What should I do?
Please contact us if you are comfortable so we are aware. We will encourage you to try your best during the networking opportunities, but if you need to be paired up with someone you know (either in rooming or meals), please let us know so we can try to accommodate you. We hope that you will be able to comfortably attend the conference and get something from it, but we understand that everyone needs to go at their own pace.
What if I need child care?
Please contact us to discuss your needs.
What are pronouns?
The pronoun that a person chooses to use for themself. For example: If Xena’s pronouns are she, her, and hers, you could say “Xena ate her food because she was hungry.” She, her, hers and he, him, his are common examples of pronouns. Some people call these “female/feminine” and “male/masculine” pronouns, but many avoid these labels because, for example, not everyone who uses he feels like a “male” or “masculine.”
There are also lots of gender-neutral pronouns in use. Here are a few you might hear:
- They, them, theirs (Xena ate their food because they were hungry.) This is is a pretty common gender-neutral pronoun…. And yes, it can in fact be used in the singular.
- Ze, hir (Xena ate hir food because ze was hungry.) Ze is pronounced like “zee” can also be spelled zie or xe, and replaces she/he/they. Hir is pronounced like “here” and replaces her/hers/him/his/they/theirs.
- Just my name please! (Xena ate Xena’s food because Xena was hungry) Some people prefer not to use pronouns at all, using their name as a pronoun instead.
- Never, ever refer to a person as “it” or “he-she” (unless they specifically ask you to.) These are often used as offensive slurs.
Based on the Samuel Merritt University Gender Pronoun Resources.
Why does Northwestern CUWiP 2019 ask for my pronouns? Why should I consider putting them on my name badge?
CUWiP seeks to be a safe space for all participants. By asking for your pronouns, we are ensuring that we don’t accidentally misgender any of our participants or make harmful assumptions based off of appearance. Even if you have never considered this in relation to yourself, by including your pronouns on your name badge you can help to make other CUWiP participants comfortable. We hope you will consider this.