Celebrating Dedication to Diversity in Science and Engineering
Award Winner:Women’s Science Forum
The Steward/NOAO Women's Science Forum The number of women pursuing academic careers in astronomy has increased dramatically since the 1970s. Women now account for 40% of Bachelors degrees in astronomy, and 25% of PhDs. However, due to the time it takes to climb the academic ladder, and the progressive attrition of women at every step, women make up only 15% of astronomy faculty. The Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona is a little worse than the national average in this regard: only 4 out of 38 (~10%) astronomy professors are women. However, 30% of the graduate students and 50% of postdoctoral fellows are female. In consequence junior women lack female role models and mentors, and work in a culture which is still predominantly defined by men. While there are organizations at both the national and university levels who are working diligently to address these issues, we have endeavored to take a more grass-roots oriented approach to creating a more equitable local scientific environment and increasing the probability of our own long-term success as academic astronomers. In 2005, we formed the Steward/NOAO Women's Science Forum (WSF) - an organization of 15 female graduate students at the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona (a.k.a. Steward Observatory) and 8 postdoctoral researchers at both the department and at nearby National Optical Astronomical Observatory (NOAO). Our goals are to (i)address retention of women in astronomy and other gender-equity issues through aggressive involvement in scientific discourse, scientific networking both within Steward/NOAO and in the greater astronomical community and informal peer mentoring among members of the group (ii) provide a positive, supportive, non-confrontational environment to develop and regularly practice scientific speaking, leadership, and general assertiveness skills; (iii) increase the participation of female grads and postdocs in mixed-gender group meetings, such as the weekly journal club, lunch talks, and colloquia; (iv) increase the number of women colloquium speakers and provide broader contact with female role models in astronomy through our Colloquium Speakers Program; and (v) reduce attrition of female astronomers at all levels thereby increasing gender-parity in the academic workforce. Here we highlight the activities that best represent the spirit of our group. - Regular science lunches where WSF members present short science talks on their current research in front of the group. These meetings encourage scientific discourse within the group, foster collaborations and give the speakers the opportunity to practice public speaking in a friendly and welcoming environment. In addition they give the audience the opportunity to practice asking questions and giving constructive feedback. - Topical meetings to discuss policy, social, and scientific issues relevant to the success of women in astronomy. The goals of these meetings are to devise coping strategies, share experience and advice, improve the academic climate, and create more equal opportunities at the Department and in the astronomical community in general. The discussions touch on topics such as mentoring, job applications, strategies for increasing one's visibility in academia, improving public speaking skills, writing better proposals, and managing stress. In 2005 the WSF presented the Department of Astronomy with recommendations to improve the awareness of harassment and unprofessional conduct which resulted in required workshops for the Department staff. - The Colloquium Speaker Program is the most visible and successful component of the WSF. In an effort to bring more female colloquium speakers for the weekly Steward/NOAO colloquia, each year the WSF has nominated a list of prominent women, democratically chosen by the WSF members, as colloquium speakers. The invited speakers meet with the WSF to discuss their experiences as a women in astronomy, share their opinions on the issues affecting women's success in the field, and give their unique perspective and advice on how to overcome various challenges. One of the WSF members acts as host of each speaker providing networking opportunity. In addition to increasing the number of women speakers and the visibility of successful women within the astronomical community, the program provides a greater number of positive role models for women in the department. Meeting with a wide variety of successful women astronomers who have each taken their own particular path has given members of the WSF a diverse range of perspectives on how to succeed in astronomy. We are proud to report that several WSF members have won prestigious postdoctoral fellowships over the past two years, and that our group has recently been awarded a mini-grant from Commission on the Status of Women to support the achievement of our goals. It is our hope that our efforts will continue to contribute to the academic success of our current and future members, and that our group will help to increase gender-parity in the academic workforce by effecting change locally.