In interviews about land acknowledgements, high school physics teachers expressed a number of different ways they had engaged with Indigenous history after learning about and practicing land acknowledgements in a year-long professional learning community. These different ways included situating Indigenous displacement within sociopolitical inequities, connecting physics to historic and current exploitation of Indigenous lands and people, and identifying ways they could incorporate Indigenous history into their physics education curriculum. Throughout the interviews, teachers expressed how they had always viewed Indigenous history and physics as two separate schools of thoughts, but found through their engagement with Indigenous history that both seemed related. This also led to teachers’ engagement and advocacy in transforming schools to incorporate Indigenous land acknowledgements. Findings from our interviews highlight the importance and need for physics education research to be more inclusive of Indigenous voices and to bring to the forefront Indigenous histories, people, and perspectives. This will help start bridging the gap that continues to exclude Indigenous peoples and communities from the field of physics.

From land acknowledgments to action: highlighting the need to engage with Indigenous history in physics teaching

In interviews about land acknowledgements, high school physics teachers expressed a number of different ways they engaged with Indigenous history after learning about and practicing land acknowledgements in a year-long professional learning community (PLC). These different ways include; learning about Indigenous displacement, connecting physics to historic and current exploitation of Indigenous lands and people, and identifying ways they can incorporate Indigenous history into their physics education curriculum. Throughout the interviews, teachers expressed how they had always viewed Indigenous history and physics as two separate schools of thoughts. This highlights the importance and need for physics education research (PER) to be more inclusive of Indigenous voices and bring to the forefront Indigenous histories, people, and perspectives. This will help start bridging the gap that continues to exclude Indigenous peoples and communities from the field of physics.

From Land Acknowledgments to Action: Engaging with Indigenous History

Poster Session 2D

poster

**Making Physics More Inclusive and Eliminating Exclusionary Practices in Physics**

As a gateway discipline to STEM majors and careers, physics plays a central role in deciding who does, and who doesn't, get to discover and pursue scientific careers. Technical and scientific professionals are rewarded with economic privilege and status which affords them both social and cultural power. Therefore, social justice will be realized only when the opportunity, and the choice, to excel in physics is open to all students. The culture and practices of the physics classroom reflect the culture of physics at large, which raises the question of how our professional physics communities can embrace, rather than inadvertently repel, a diverse group of academics that can help improve physics culture.  To this end, the 2021 Physics Education Research Conference will focus on defining inclusive spaces and practices. Additionally, we will explore strategies for eliminating exclusionary practices in our classrooms, research spaces, and professional organizations. We call on the community to propose sessions that will drive conversations related to these initiatives throughout PERC 2021.

Please download the full program [here. ](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TRMC_SYJ3PUqXyP7sskA7LRSA8ow0eRE/view?usp=sharing)

PERC SM 21

August 4, 2021 - August 5, 2021 in a Virtual Conference Format

Making Physics More Inclusive and Eliminating Exclusionary Practices in Physics

PS.B-SA-08: PER: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion I

technical paper

Join AAPT and Physics Educators worldwide in developing and strengthening your professional connections by attending the 2021 AAPT Virtual Summer Meeting. AAPT meetings are a great way to reflect on your teaching, recommit to best practices and re-energize your career with new research, products, and techniques.

Listen to internationally known plenary speakers, attend sessions, workshops, and special activities. Attending the virtual summer meeting is an excellent opportunity to share your expertise and learn from and network with leaders in the field.

Please log in with your AAPT account or register for the event if you haven't already.

If you are registered please note that you need to be logged in with your AAPT email / credentials in order to get access.

Jessica Hernandez

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From land acknowledgments to action: highlighting the need to engage with Indigenous history in physics teaching

From Land Acknowledgments to Action: Engaging with Indigenous History

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