The mission of CUWiP is to encourage undergraduate women to persist or start a career in physics by proving them with the opportunity to learn about career paths in physics, experience a professional conference, and discuss challenges and concerns. This conference was initiated in 2006 and research data indicate that CUWiP is effective in meeting its goals. It is being supported by in part from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.

Radioactive nuclei play a significant role in many current astrophysical pursuits, from the origin of the elements to the driving of emissions from supernovae ($^5$$^6$Ni) and kilonovae (r-process radioactivity). Radioactive nuclei are crucial for direct studies of galactic enrichment ($^7$Be, $^2$$^6$Al, $^4$$^4$Ti, $^6$$^0$Fe, $^9$$^9$Tc, $^2$$^4$$^4$Pu) and stellar explosions ($^5$$^6$Ni, $^4$$^4$Ti). Stars and their explosions, galaxies and their evolving interstellar medium, and the origin of the solar system are among the targeted astrophysical objects.