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When women have equal access to opportunity, anything is possible.

1400 Degrees was built by the Heising-Simons Foundation to create a community space for women and gender minorities studying and working in the fields of physics and astronomy. We are a movement of scientists, funders, and academics dedicated to highlighting the brilliant contributions of these individuals.

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Heising-Simons Foundation Portraits

Drew Bird Photography
San Francisco Bay Area Photographer
Have Camera. Will Travel. 

www.drewbirdphoto.com
drew@drewbirdphoto.com
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Why 1400 Degrees?

A glass ceiling is a metaphor used to represent unseen barriers that prevent women and people of marginalized genders from excelling in society. Although glass does not have a definite melting point, 1400 °C represents the starting point where some glass begins to transform.

As a collective of scientists and innovators, 1400 Degrees is turning up the heat on the pace of change in science. We know that only through diversity of thought, backgrounds, and lived experiences can we expect the kind of groundbreaking research that revolutionizes how we understand the universe.

While our capacity and resources are directed at women, we welcome all marginalized and non-conforming genders. We aim to continuously grow our resources to address the intersections that impact diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout academia.

Real, sustainable change also requires the allyship of men to support gender equality. We encourage our male colleagues to use the directory as an opportunity to recruit, promote, and elevate the contributions of women.

This initiative will only work if we are all involved. If you have ideas, feedback, or stories you’d like to contribute, drop us a note. We would love to hear from you!

Who we are

The Heising-Simons Foundation is a family foundation based in Los Altos and San Francisco, California. The Foundation works with its many partners to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners, and support human rights for all people.

Inspired by
visionary women

In 2017, the Heising-Simons Foundation partnered with leading academic institutions across the US to create the Physics and Astronomy Leadership Council. The design and build of the 1400 Degree platform reflects the ambitious vision of the Physics and Astronomy Leadership Council.

Dr. Bonnie Fleming

Professor of Physics—University of Chicago

Dr. Jenny Hoffman

Professor of Physics & Applied Physics—Harvard University

Dr. Nadya Mason

Dean of the Pritzker School of Molecular EngineeringThe University of Chicago

Dr. Lindley Winslow

Jerrold R. Zacharias Career Development Assistant Professor of Physics—
Massachusetts Insitute of Technology

Dr. Lia Corrales

Assistant Professor—University of Michigan, Department of Astronomy

Dr. Gurtina Besla

Associate Professor
The University of Arizona, Department of Astronomy

Dr. Kerstin Perez

Lavine Family Associate Professor of the Natural Sciences—Columbia University

Dr. Caitlin Casey

Assistant ProfessorThe University of Texas at Austin, Department of Astronomy

There’s tons of evidence that diversity of opinions, thoughts, and backgrounds leads to better, more out-of-the-box thinking. Given the enormous problems we face as a society, we need to have more minds at work in this field.

Nadya Mason
Professor of Physics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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