Dr. Marty BaylorBaylor, who was visiting Colorado for the summer, expressed her excitement about the event, saying, 鈥淟ast year, I got to know folks in WaGMiP from conversations after my 'Life After JILA' talk last fall while I was in the area for my sabbatical. I had conversations with them both as a group and individually. I've maintained relationships with members of WaGMiP even after relocating to Minnesota for the rest of my sabbatical, helping some of them develop Personal and Professional Individual Development Plans.鈥�
Hearing of Baylor鈥檚 visit to Colorado, WaGMiP leadership invited her back to campus.
Iona Binnie, a fifth year physics graduate student and leader of WaGMiP, shared her thoughts on the event, 鈥淟unch with Marty was fantastic. It was great catching up and chatting about WaGMiP's department activities since her last visit. Connecting with Marty has been really valuable to many of us, and we plan to keep getting together whenever she visits Boulder.鈥�
The informal lunch allowed WaGMiP members to share their summer stories and discuss topics related to their experiences in physics in a safe setting. The value of groups like WaGMiP at CU Boulder cannot be overstated, as they offer a crucial space for individuals to connect, share experiences, and find support.
Dr. Baylor highlighted this, saying, "We all need groups where we can metaphorically 'let our hair down' with people that are like us in some way, particularly for individuals whose identities are marginalized in a larger community. Affinity spaces are places where one can be heard and seen, serving, when needed, as a positive counter space to one's experience in the dominant community."
Event photos by听Iona Binnie
Marty Baylor portrait courtesy听Carleton College