The gender and diversity dimension of science and technology has become one of the most important and debated issues worldwide, impacting society at every level. The International Astronomical Union, through its Executive Committee Working Group on Women in Astronomy, has been a strong advocate for discussing these themes openly and for supporting initiatives that can improve a more balanced representation of diversity in our community.

The IAU Women in Astronomy (WiA) Working Group (WG)'s mandate is to collect information, propose measures, and initiate actions in support of, or to advance equality of opportunity for achievement between women and men in astronomy, in the IAU, and the world at large. It has 192 members as of now from all the continents and we look forward to welcoming many more members from all over the world.

The new WiA WG organizing committee (OC) appointed in Sep 2021, will mainly focus on the difficulties (bias, reduced career prospects, leaky pipeline and lacking role models, childcare issues, harassment, discrimination, unfair working conditions) faced by Women in Astronomy. It will help bridge the gender gap in Astronomy and STEM fields, and facilitate the careers of women researchers and young women Ph.D. students worldwide. To achieve these objectives a four-point action plan has been put forward with a special focus on (i) Awareness & Sustainability, (ii) Training & Skill Building, (iii) Fundraising & career support (iv) Communication & Dissemination of results via conferences, newsletters, etc.

The IAU WiA WG will organize a session at the IAU 2022, General Assembly meeting - http://www.iauga2022.org/ with an aim to highlight the support activities being carried out by the International Astronomical Union, National Astronomical societies, and funding agencies to support women's careers in Astronomy, STEM, and Outreach.

In this context, the OC of the IAU EC WG on Women in Astronomy together with the NOC of the IAU-GA in Busan are proud to announce the Women in Astronomy Lunch Meeting (WL). The IAU WiA meeting and lunch sessions are open to all the participants attending the IAU General Assembly meeting 2022.  Ph.D., postdocs, and early career researchers are strongly encouraged to participate. 

Women in Astronomy (WiA) Division of the Korean Astronomy Society (KAS) is pleased to announce funds to support the Women in Astronomy lunch and childcare service during the General Assembly meeting of 2022.

Important: Considering the ongoing developments regarding the coronavirus pandemic, we will likely organize a Hybrid (physical, if no travel restrictions, and virtual) meeting. 

NOTE- If you plan to join the special IAU Women in Astronomy WG Lunch+Mentoring session then please register at the link - IAU WiA Mentoring session @ IAU GA meeting Busan, 2022 South Korea

SURVEYS and Feedback

All the participants are invited to -

1- provide their valuable Feedback on the IAUGA 2022 WiA WG session at -

https://forms.gle/Pmfyy1rPWjL4YDMo6

2- Take the survey on 'The Impact of Covid19 on the career of Astronomers at -

https://forms.gle/CboPUxVjP8CZsqAy8'

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TOPICS:

Session 1- Statistics and awareness

• Gender balance statistics in Astronomy & Awareness, Juggling family and career, including the 2-body problem

• Problems (Harassment, bullying, and sexual harassment in the workplace)  faced by Women in Astronomy (STEM), Consequences, and how to deal with it
• Discrimination (Positive and negative), Bias (conscious and unconscious)
• Ethics in publishing: getting credit for your work (How to assert yourself regarding scientific work, how to make your voice heard and your work noticed in a group environment, especially if there aren't other women)

Session 3- Efforts by institutions and funding agencies

• Efforts being carried out at the national level by Universities, Research organizations, funding agencies & international bodies
• Equal access to education especially at the Graduate, Master, and Ph.D. levels to female students and efforts that could be taken in this direction.
• Equal access to employment opportunities especially at the Postdoc, faculty position, and higher positions (professor, senior researchers, and director) level, blockages, missing efforts, statistics, needed actions
• Gender equality and diversity in Mega international projects

Session 4- Career options in Astronomy

• Non-academic career options (industry, K12 teaching, national labs/observatories...)
• IAU and support towards women's careers

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INVITED SPEAKERS:

• Annapurni Subramaniam

• Debra Meloy Elmegreen

• Ewine F. van Dishoeck

• Jeong-Eun Lee

• Seong-Jin Ju

• Silvia Torres Peimbert

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SCIENTIFIC ORGANISING COMMITTEE:

Mamta Pommier (Chair, IAU WiA WG, FR), Priya Hasan (Co-Chair, IAU WiA WG, IND), Alshaimaa Saad (Egypt), Arianna Piccialli (Belgium), Daniela Lazzaro (Brazil), Lili Yang (China), Santiago Vargas Domínguez (Colombia)

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LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE:

Mamta Pommier (Chair, IAU WiA WG, FR), Priya Hasan (Co-Chair, IAU WiA WG, IND), Junga Hwang (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute)

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CONTACT:

Mamta Pommier (Chair, IAU WiA WG, FR) 

For any queries please contact: iauwia2124@gmail.com

https://sites.google.com/view/iau-women-in-astronomy/home?authuser=2