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Women in the IAU

Learn about the history of women in the International Astronomical Union (IAU), current statistics, and initiatives to promote gender diversity and leadership. Discover opportunities for women to excel in astronomy and contribute to the field. #IAU100

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Women in the IAU

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  1. Women in the IAU Ewine F. van Dishoeck IAU President UNOOSA-COPUOS meeting, Amman, March 26 2019

  2. What is the IAU? Worldwide union of all professional astronomers Promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects (including research, communication, education, and development) through international cooperation Founded in 1919 13500+ members from 82 countries • 18% women Scientific organization in Divisions, Commissions and Working Groups

  3. Female statistics IAU members Some increase in recent years, but fraction still disappointingly low

  4. Statistics per country per age bin 2015 13% 27% 25% 8% 15% 14.6% 14.5% 2015 14% 26% 14% 27% 8% 14% 16% 2018

  5. Some history

  6. General Assembly Leiden 1928 Executive Committee: All men! (very famous) A few women present

  7. General Assembly Cambridge USA 1932

  8. IAU (assistant) General Secretary Edith Mueller: AGS 1973-1976; GS: 1976-1979: first female (A)GS Nel Splinter: first Assistant Secretary (Miss IAU)

  9. Executive Committee Polish stellar astronomer General Assembly Moscow 1958 First female vice president: Wilhelmina Iwanowska 1973-1979

  10. Actions to promote women More women in high IAU positions

  11. Female IAU Presidents Silvia Torres-Peimbert 2015-2018 Catherine Cesarsky 2006-2009 Ewine van Dishoeck 2018-2021

  12. IAU officers 2015-2018 President: Silvia Torres-Peimbert GS: Piero Benvenuti President-elect: EvD AGS: Teresa Lago

  13. Officers 2018-2021 • President: EvD GS: Teresa Lago • President-elect: Debra Elmegreen AGS: Ian Robson

  14. IAU Executive Committee 3/6 Vice Presidents ~35% Division Presidents Mexico City May 2016

  15. Female speakers IAU symposia

  16. Actions to promote women World-wide ICSU gender gap survey across sciences: deadline Nov 30 (male + female) More women in high IAU positions Activities • Women in astronomy lunches • Mentoring • Schools • .... Junior members: as of GA 2018

  17. Women in astronomy lunches

  18. International Schools for Young Astronomers West Africa ISYA Honduras 2015 JEDI Namibie

  19. TGF fellowship 2019 proposal deadline March 31! Maria Drozdovskaya 2016 Laetizia Delrez 2016 Khaled Said 2017 South Africa→ Australia k$50 research funding

  20. PhD prize each year in each Division • Prize for best PhD thesis in each Division • Next deadline: December 15, 2019

  21. Summary Fraction of women in IAU still low Fraction of women in high positions IAU is now high Actions to attract more women and making them more visible • Suggestions welcome! Women can grow within IAU to leadership positions • WG, Commission, Division Steering committees • Organizing IAU Symposia Actions to increase diversity

  22. My supervisor’s advice Alexander Dalgarno by Neal Lane Motivation matters: choose the right problems Confidence matters: assume nothing is impossible Skillsmatter: use all the tools Patience and tenacitymatter: never give up People matter: human relationships are special Integrity matters: honesty and high standards

  23. International Astronomical Union 1919 - 2019 www.iau-100.org #IAU100 We are all world citizens under the same beautiful sky

  24. Meeting XYZ, X Dec 2019

  25. Main lessons/advice Make sure you excel in one area • Better to do one topic very well than lots topics average • Often involves hard work Be passionate about your science Take the steepest trajectory early in your career • Seize opportunities Balance opportunities with your partner • Including work-life balance, household activities Have fun in your work, enjoy life!

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