IYA2009 has the aim of contributing to four of the UN Millennium Development Goals, of which one is to “promote gender equality and empower women”. Approximately a quarter of professional astronomers are women, and the field continues to attract women and benefit from their participation. However, there is a wide geographical diversity, with some countries having none, and others having more than 50% female professional astronomers. Also, the very high level of female dropouts shows that circumstances do not favour female scientists. Gender equality is of a major concern to the whole scientific community regardless of its geographic location. The problems and difficulties are different in all regions and continents. IYA2009’s She is an Astronomer programme will offer platforms that address some of these problems.

She is an astronomer will contain the following components:

• • The Portal to the Universe global web portal will provide a collection of links to all the
  existing regional and national programmes, associations, international organisations,
  non-governmental organizations, grants and fellowships supporting female scientists.
  

  • The project intends to seek cooperation agreement with prestigious already running
  initiatives, to provide fellowships to female scientists to support their career chances.

  • A Woman Astronomer Ambassador Programme will be established to reach girls at
  high school and university level with the messages of the programme.

Note also that part of the programme will appear in the Cosmic Diary Cornerstone featuring the work and family lives of female researchers.

Project description

1. Objectives, aims

The aim of the project is to provide neutral, informative and accessible information to female professional and amateur astronomers, students and those who are generally interested in the gender equality problem in science. We believe that providing these information can help to increase the interest of young females to study astronomy, and to pursue a career in astronomy.

Objectives of the project are to build and maintain an internet based, easy-to-handle and maintain forum and database, where people regardless of the geographical location can read about and discuss the subject, discuss the subject, ask questions and find answers. As a special part, the project shall provide Internet based forum to discuss the astronomy sector specific problems (such as observing time and family duties etc.).

2. Project description

The project, currently named “She is an astronomer @ success.com”, is internet based in order to get the maximum geographical scope. The project contains the following pillars:

• • “Her Cosmic Diary” blog: Well-known female astronomers chosen based on a fair geographical distribution will be asked to present themselves as part of the IYA2009 Cosmic Diary blog: their carrier path, professional and part of their private life in essays and pictures. The site shall provide forum-chat option for everyone who wants to engage in discussion on the topic. The discussion will be non-moderated, community driven.
• • The chosen female astronomers will be special contributors to the 24 Hours of Astronomy project as well.
• The Portal to the Universe web portal will provide a collection of links of all the existing programmes, associations, international organizations, NGOs, grants, fellowships supporting female scientists. Also the EU FP7 gender mainstreaming possibilities will be described on the website. j
• • The project intends to seek a cooperation agreement with already existing prestigious initiatives that provide fellowships to female scientists to enhance their career chances. ( like UNESCO – L’Oreal initiative)
• • A Woman Ambassador programme shall be established to reach the high schools and universities. The ambassador programme will be a voluntary activity of female astronomers. During the IAU GA in Brazil the ambassadors will be instructed by the project leader about the activities that they could do as honorary ambassadors.

3. Implementation

Phases of the project:

• • • • • Planning: 2007 September - May
      • • Preparation: 2008 (hiring the person in charge, building website, filling it with
        information, contacting participating female astronomers)
      • • Implementation: 2009 (website running: blog, 24 hours astronomy, discussion
        forum, ambassadors instruction kit completed)
      • • Closing, follow-up: 2010

Deliverables and expected milestones

1. Planning:

- Project working group establishment. Working group first teleconference in October.

- Detailed Draft project plan by December 2007. Final project plan by 2008 May.

2. Preparation:

- Hiring person in charge of IT tasks should be done by 2008 July. This person would be in charge of the technical aspects: building and maintaining the website, collecting the links, according to the instructions of the working group.

3. Implementation:

- Internet site has to be up and running by the opening ceremony of the Year, and will be introduced to the public during the event.

- Maintaining and updating the website is continuous during the whole year, in collaboration with the other IYA projects.

- One month before the IAU GA in Brazil, a kit for the ambassadors has to be completed (a guide).

Detailed project description

1. “Her Cosmic Diary” blog : Well-known female astronomers chosen based on a fair geographical distribution will be asked to present themselves as part of the IYA2009 Cosmic Diary blog: their carrier path, professional and part of their private life in essays and pictures.

One astronomer will present herself per month. The list of the 12 astronomers should be complete by August 2008 (with confirmation from the scientists that they are willing to participate). They will be contacted during the course of September, and will be asked to present their short story in Word document 2 months before their “month”. The personal stories should contain:

• - What was my drive to become an astronomer
• - The years of studies/ The early professional carreer
• - How to manage a family and a career
• Was there any help or support/Advise to young scientists

The parts will be presented on a weekly basis. Ideally pictures from the scientist and family should also be published.

Needs: - Person to build the website(as part of the Universe website and the Cosmic blog website)
- Person to proof read the papers of the scientists
- Person to maintain the website (max 1 day per week)

Task Group

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (ESO) – Chair
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Hungary, ESO) – Co-chair

Gloria Dubner
Mary Beth Laychak
Pat Kenezek
Lebohang William Kompi
Chris DePree
Maria Lugaro
Danielle Alloin
Sarah Maddison
Yiping Wang
Helen J. Walker
Douglas Duncan 

Files

Report from December 03, 2007 (.pdf format, 143 KB)