The Disordered Cosmos

From a star astrophysicist, a journey into the world of particle physics and the cosmos - and a call for more just, inclusive practice of science.

Science, like most fields, is set up for men to succeed, and is rife with racism, sexism, and shortsightedness as a result. But as Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein makes brilliantly clear, we all have a right to know the night sky. One of the leading physicists of her generation, she is also one of the fewer than one hundred Black women to earn a PhD in physics.

You will enjoy - and share -her love for physics, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics and what lies beyond it, to the physics of melanin in skin, to the latest theories of dark matter -all with a new spin and rhythm informed by pop culture, hip hop, politics, and Star Trek. This vision of the cosmos is vibrant, inclusive and buoyantly non-traditional.

By welcoming the insights of those who have been left out for too long, we expand our understanding of the universe and our place in it. The Disordered Cosmos is a vision for a world without prejudice that allows everyone to view the wonders of the universe through the same starry eyes.

About the Author

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Core Faculty in Women's and Gender Studies at the University of New Hampshire. She is also a columnist for New Scientist. Her research in theoretical physics focuses on cosmology, neutron stars, and particles beyond the standard model. She also does research on feminist science studies, with a specific focus on the experiences of Black women in physics. Essence Magazine recognized her as one of 15 Black Women Who Are Paving the Way in STEM and Breaking Barriers.

She has been profiled in several venues, including Tech Crunch, Ms. Magazine, Huffington Post, Gizmodo, Nylon, and the African-American Intellectual History Society's Black Perspectives. She received the 2017 LGBT+ Physicists Acknowledgement of Excellence Award "For Years of Dedicated Effort in Changing Physics Culture to be More Inclusive and Understanding Toward All Marginalized Peoples." She divides her time between Durham, New Hampshire, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.