IAU EC WG Astronomy for Equity and Inclusion Newsletter #2 June 2020
IAU Executive Committee Working Group
Astronomy for Equity and Inclusion Newsletter
#2 June 2020
1) IAU Statement on Racism and Discrimination
2) The IAU welcomes over 500 new Individual and Junior Members
3) Online Astronomy French Sign Language (LSF) Workshop
4) Developing the Accessibility Mindset
5) Telescopes for All: 17 Underserved Communities Selected to Receive Telescopes
6) June 10, on our Social Media during #ShutDownStem
7) Meeting & Conferences
8) Sub Groups Established
9) Subscribe to our Basecamp and join the discussion
10) Share your News!
Dear friends,
The IAU stands in solidarity with protesters worldwide, united in rejecting the racist and discriminatory behaviour that blights societies across the globe. Joining the many actions around the world, taking time to learn and reflect, and to listen to how we can be part of the solution that leads to a permanent and sustainable change, we want to ask you what did you learn from your reflections? What actions are you taking? And we invite you to share your pledge (Name, Country, Email, Institution, and Pledge) with us through astro4inclusion@oao.iau.org.
In this monthly edition of the newsletter, we highlight the content shared online and we thank everyone that contributed, especially to Beatriz Garcia and Thilina Heenatigala for sparking the discussion and taking initiative in our communication channels. We also encourage you to join upcoming online meetings ahead and read the Developing the Accessibility Mindset free ebook. Don’t forget that the new subGroups offer you a chance to work and collaborate in your area/areas of interest.
Wishing you all our best,Amelia Ortiz-Gil & Lina Canas
1) IAU Statement on Racism and DiscriminationThe IAU stands in solidarity with protesters worldwide, united in rejecting the racist and discriminatory behaviour that blights societies across the globe.
Read the full statement here: https://www.iau.org/news/announcements/detail/ann20023/
2) The IAU welcomes over 500 new Individual and Junior Members
The International Astronomical Union extends a warm welcome to its 373 new Individual Members and 203 new Junior Members, who have now been formally accepted into the Union. Their admission brings the total number of IAU members to 14 136 from 107 countries worldwide.
Read more on IAU.org:https://www.iau.org/news/announcements/detail/ann20024/
3) Online Astronomy French Sign Language (LSF) Workshop
Haitian Creole Workshop for teachers working with the deaf and hearing impaired. Astronomy updates in French Sign Language (LSF) with the reference: “THE HANDS IN THE STARS” [Encyclopedic Dictionary of Astronomy for the French Sign Language (LSF)], written under the direction of Dominique Proust.
More details here (in English and French) https://haitiastronomie.blogspot.com/2020/05/online-lsf-astronomy-workshop-on-going.htmlhttps://haitiastronomie.blogspot.com/p/atelye-vityel-ann-met-men-nou-nan.html We send a warm thank you to Rulx Narcisse, the IAU National Outreach Coordinator for Haiti for sharing the news.
4) Developing the Accessibility Mindset
Getting accessibility right by changing how you think about it. As you develop the accessibility mindset, accessibility won’t feel like a burden, but more of an opportunity. Designs and products won’t be great despite accessibility, but because of it. Your free eBook includes six chapters to help you get accessibility right, with reminders to keep the user at the centre of everything and that accessibility is a journey.
Download your free eBook here.5) Telescopes for All: 17 Underserved Communities Selected to Receive Telescopes
17 communities of underrepresented groups around the world have been selected to receive telescopes signed by astronauts and Nobel Laureates. This is the first group of telescopes to be distributed by the Telescopes for All: Inspiring Stars & Stars Shine for Everyone Collaboration.
Read more on IAU.org: https://www.iau.org/news/announcements/detail/ann20026/
6) June 10, on our Social Media during #ShutDownStem
We thank our colleagues for identifying and sharing some resources with us. Below you can read some of our posts on social media during #ShutDownStem.
Statment on combating systemic racism and other forms of discrimination. Read the full statement from the International Science Council (ISC) here.
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) endorses the grassroots efforts to #ShutDownSTEM, #ShutDownAcademia, and #Strike4BlackLives on Wednesday, 10 June. Read more on the American Astronomical Society (AAS) here.
#Black In Geoscience. Read more at the blog of the Geodynamics (GD) Division of the European Geosciences Union(EGU) here.
Springer Nature, publisher of Nature Research, have launched a collection of books, journal articles and magazine content that amplifies Black voices and the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.
Actionable Steps to Make our Community More Equitable. Read more about this living list of resources at the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
Resources for #ShutDownSTEM, #ShutDownAcademia & #Strike4BlackLives. Discover more at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) website.
Black Lives Matter – Anti-racism resources. Read more on Science on a Postcard here.
In pursuit of social justice, diversity and excellence in astronomy, read more about Astronomy in Color blog here.
Read more on how to take action #BlackLivesMatter at https://blacklivesmatter.com
#BlackInAstro: How Can We Support Black Astronomers? Read more at astrobites here.
The AIP National Task Force to Elevate African American Representation in Undergraduate Physics & Astronomy (TEAM-UP). Read more on the American Institute of Physics here.
4 Ways That Scientists And Academics Can Effectively Combat Racism Read more on forbes.com here.
Wednesday, June 10: A Strike For Black Lives. Read more on Particles for Justice here.
Communicating your support for #blacklivesmatter: Dos, Don’t, and resources. Read more on https://500womenscientists.org/updates/2020/6/1/take-action7) Meeting & Conferences
2020 SCIACCESS CONFERENCEMonday, June 29, 2020Register here.
8) Sub Groups Established
The IAU EC WG on Astronomy for Equity and Inclusion sub-groups are subsets of the working group created to focus, both discussions and actions, on the different fields across inclusion. The sub-groups Intend to build upon specific networks within IAU and bring in external expertise, with their members steering and informing the WGs global actions.Identify specific needs in the community and draft courses of action and guidelines, aligned with both the IAU Strategic Plan 2020-2030 and the Springboard of Action leveraging all dimensions of inclusion on research, outreach, education and development.Are in contact and close collaboration with each other through email, basecamp or online meetings, accessing the intersectionality aspects inherent to the field, avoiding duplication of the efforts carried. We would like to invite all of you to join one or more of the subWGs according to your particular interests and expertise. Further information about the subWGs can be found here.9) Subscribe to our Basecamp and join the discussionWe have set up a common Basecamp dedicated to all communications. As we understand that not all tools are 100% accessible we want to offer various channels tailored to our different needs. As all the actions carried by the WG, our suggestions are open for discussion and we intend to involve our members as much as possible. Therefore if you identify any tool that would suit you please kindly let us know and we will try to implement it. You can subscribe to our Basecamp by sending a message to Amelia Ortiz-Gil and Lina Canas with the subject: Inclusion WG Basecamp at astro4inclusion [at] oao.iau.org.10) Share your News!Reach out to us and share news, activities, articles, resources and events from the astronomy community for inclusion around the world. We are looking forward to reading your contributions!
Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Astro4Inclusion/