Issue of March 14, 2025
eds: Jeremy Bailin, Sethanne Howard, Ferah Munshi, Nicolle Zellner, Stella Kafka, and Ben Keller
[We hope you all are taking care of yourselves and each other. --eds.]
This week's issues:
1. Crosspost: Chasing the Stars: Women Astronomers at the University of Wisconsin
2. 2025 NASA Planetary Science Summer School Applications Due March 18, 2025
3. Imposter Syndrome Isn’t a Personal Flaw. It’s a Systemic Issue
4. Female Science Stars to Follow in 2025
5. NASA Science - SMD
6. NASA OSTEM News
7. Update to NASA Science Advisory Committees
8. AAS Issues Public Policy Guidance and Action Alerts for AAS Members
9. Seven Women Who Changed Astronomy (2025)
10. Conversations on Careers Outside Academia (COCOA)
11. Save the date: Physics & Astronomy Faculty Teaching Institute: June 25–28, College Park, MD
12. e-z-science Women in Astronomy
13. Trajectories in Astronomy, in the Specific Case of Chile
14. Maximizing American Talent by Advancing Women of Color in Academia
15. Status of Women in Astronomy: Still a Long Way to Go
16. Behind every great woman in science, there’s another great woman in science
17. How to Submit to the AASWOMEN newsletter
18. How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the AASWOMEN newsletter
19. Access to Past Issues
An online version of this newsletter will be available at http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/ at 3:00 PM ET every Friday.
By: James Lattis and Kelly Tyrrell
Women’s participation in astronomy has always been constrained by the social conventions and norms of wider society, many of which limited women’s access to education itself.
Initially, women were considered by many male astronomers to be unsuited for the “physical hardships” of long nighttime hours at the telescope, not to mention academic life more generally. But norms and conventions shifted rapidly in the United States after the Civil War, and female students were becoming more common on college campuses by the time Washburn Observatory came along.
Read more at:
https://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2025/03/chasing-stars-women-astronomers-at.html
"I’d like to call your attention to the deadline of March 18, 2025, for application to the 37th annual NASA Planetary Science Summer School (PSSS) experience at JPL PasadenaCA. We would appreciate your help in getting the word out to help us gather a qualified pool of candidates. Please share the announcement and distribute the attached flyer to your contacts who may have an interest, or who can suggest other qualified candidatesto apply."
Read more at:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/internships/apply/nasa-science-mission-design-schools/
The term “imposter syndrome” has become a cultural shorthand for self-doubt. We’re told it’s something to fix within ourselves: a nagging belief that we’re unqualified or unworthy, even when all evidence points to the contrary. Yet for many women—and especially women of color—this framing misses the mark entirely.
Read More At:
https://time.com/7261073/imposter-syndrome-systemic-issue-essay/
Female science communicators are taking social media by storm in 2025. These aren't your average content creators, and their numbers aren't average either.
This year, out of the top 50 STEM influencers on FeedSpot's media database, no less than 41 spots went to accounts with women presenters. Across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, female science communicators are drawing millions of followers with their wit and wisdom.
Read more at:
https://www.sciencealert.com/international-womens-day-female-science-stars-to-follow-in-2025
By: NASA
As you may be aware, the new Administration has issued Executive Orders (EOs) and implemented policy and guidance that may affect grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. SMD, consistentwith agency direction, is working diligently to comply with the requirements of the new policy and guidance, as well as court orders resulting from litigation related to EOs and guidance. SMD currently oversees approximately 6,000 grants, cooperative agreements,contracts, interagency transfers, and internal NASA transfers; thus, as you can imagine, the process of implementing the new policy and guidance is taking some time and the turnaround time on actions will be longer than normal. We ask for your patience. Please also realize that we are in a highly dynamic environment with multiple lawsuits being adjudicated each with the potential to impact policy and guidance affecting grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.
Unfortunately, Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) 2025 was not released on Valentine's Day as it has been in past years. There aremultiple reasons for this related to the increased workload on the SMD R&A Lead as well as everyone who works with Notices of Funding Opportunities. SMD is working diligently on ROSES-2025 and hope to release it soon.
The Grants and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) is being revised to ensure compliance with new Executive Orders, policy, and guidance. We hope to havethe revised GCAM released soon.
The proposal creation function for the Topical Workshops, Symposiums, and Conferences (TWSC-2024) in Space and Earth Sciences and Technology solicitation,NNH24ZDA002N, is disabled on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). Previously submitted proposals will still be reviewed and selection decisions will be made. This pause in accepting new proposals is needed toupdate the TWSC solicitation to be compliant with Executive Orders as well as to adapt it to the recent revision of the "Uniform Guidance" (2 CFR 200) that governs all grants and cooperative agreements. The timeframe for when TWSC will be revised/replacedand open for new proposals cannot be predicted at this time. For more about TWSC visit: https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/funding-for-events/.
Read More at:
For guidance from NASA's Office of Procurement (OP), please visit https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-global-contractor-and-grantee-community-memos/. ForGrants and cooperative agreements ONLY, the section of the Grants Policy and Compliance webpage that provides updates on NASA's implementation of recent Executive Orders that impact the Agency's Federal financial assistance applicants and recipients is https://www.nasa.gov/grants-policy-and-compliance-team/#Regulations. You may also seek guidance from SMD's Program Officers; a list of programofficers may be found at https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/program-officers-list/. Finally, you may always send questions to the SeniorAdvisors for Research and Analysis (SARA) Team at sara@nasa.gov.
The new Administration has issued several Executive Orders (EOs) and implemented policy and guidance that may affect grants and cooperative agreements. Consistent with this direction,OSTEM is working diligently to comply with the requirements of the new EOs, and policy and guidance, as well as comply with court orders resulting from litigation related to these EOs.
The process of implementing the policy and guidance associated with the new EOs is taking some time and the response on actions will take longer than normal. We ask for your patience.Please also realize that we are in a highly dynamic environment with multiple lawsuits being adjudicated, each with the potential to impact policy and guidance, which, in turn, impacts grants and cooperative agreements. OSTEM would like to provide the following brief updates:
1. The Engagement Opportunities in NASA STEM (EONS) 2025 omnibus solicitation was not released in January 2025 as originally planned. OSTEM continues towork diligently on EONS-2025 and intends to release it soon. A new forecast will be posted herewhen available.
2. OSTEM is simultaneously working on an update for EONS 2024, Appendix #13 MUREP Earth Science Systems Research (MUREP ESSR). At this point in time, it is unclear if selections will be made. Updates will be sent to Proposersthat met the October 30, 2024 solicitation deadline.
3. In order to review and analyze the agency's compliance, with recent EOs, OSTEM canceled EONS 2024, Appendix #16 titled MUREP Aeronautics Community & EnvironmentalImpact Research (ACEIR) in mid-February 2025.
4. The Grants and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) is being revised to ensure compliance with new EOs, policy, and guidance. We hope to have the revisedGCAM released soon.
Read More At:
For guidance from NASA's Office of Procurement (OP), please visit https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-global-contractor-and-grantee-community-memos/. ForGrants and cooperative agreements ONLY, the section of the Grants Policy and Compliance webpage that provides updates on NASA's implementation of recent EOs that impact the Agency's Federal financial assistance applicants and recipients is https://www.nasa.gov/grants-policy-and-compliance-team/#Regulations.
By: Michael New
On February 19, 2025, the President issued Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, which sets forth the Administration's policy of reducingthe size of the Federal government in order to minimize waste and abuse, reduce inflation and promote American freedom and innovation. This Executive Order directed the termination of several Federal advisory committees across the government and ordered theidentification of additional unnecessary Federal advisory committees for termination.
NASA maintains an advisory committee for each of the five science divisions within the Science Mission Directorate: Astrophysics, Biological and Physical Sciences, Earth Science, Heliophysics,and Planetary Science. These committees, Michael Newhich are discretionary and not required by statute, have supported NASA's achievement of its science goals.
In response to Executive Order 14217, NASA's acting administrator, Janet Petro, has directed NASA to merge these five committees into a single advisory committee with broad representation from across the NASA science community. This restructuring will providethe opportunity to retain one non-statutory science committee and ensure continued support of NASA science goals -- improving efficiency, while ensuring NASA maintains the important process of engaging with the science community.
NASA's Science Mission Directorate is in the process of determining the best structure, scale, and scope for the merged committee. The directorate is committed to ensuring representation from all areas of expertise relevant to the Science Mission Directorate'sobjectives.
The Science Mission Directorate is committed to continuing to engage with the science community in a variety of ways - both formal and informal.
This memo by:
https://science.nasa.gov/people/dr-michael-new/
By: AAS
AAS Public Policy staff are closely monitoring the political situation and providing guidance to AAS members on how they can support astronomical science and education. Here are various updates and action items released in the past week.
AAS has updated the community of its alarm regarding rumored deep cuts to NASA and National Science Foundation (7 March). Colin Hamill, AAS Bahcall Public Policy Fellow, writes in his 4 March Policy Update on the state of agency layoffs and related policy news. Register for a webinar on 19 March (1:00–2:00pm ET) to learn about how you can take action to support the astronomical sciences. If you have been impacted (or could be impacted) by federal changes, please share your story with AAS. Take action today to advocate for the astronomical community. Learn how to submit an appropriation request. If you’d like to meet with AAS Policy and Education staff, join our upcoming Office Hours (AAS member login required) on Thursday 13 March, 3-4pm ET.
Amateur Astronomy Association online talk Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 7-9 PM.
From the beginning of people looking up into the sky, until now, a countless number of women have made significant, field-changing discoveries and contributions. These contributions include the measurement of planet and star positions dating back to the first century, stellar composition, the development of the Hubble constant, pulsars, neutron stars, black holes and dark matter.
We will highlight the seven women who made impactful changes to our understanding of the universe. They often challenged and proved wrong many of their male counterparts, and also the common thinking of the time.
Read more at:
https://aaa.org/event/seven-women-of-astronomy-2025/
Celebrating the AAS Education Committee: Consider Joining! | Biweekly Newsletter for 11 March 2025
The Education Committee’s subcommittee on Preparation for Careers Beyond Academia is offering an exciting series, Conversations On Careers Outside Academia (COCOA)! This week, dive into valuable resources in data science with Jeffery Silverman. In our career spotlight we will hear about the journey of Kathryn Williamson, who transitioned from academia to become an education consultant. The next session is on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 5:00pm EDT / 4:00pm CDT. Join us here (direct link to Zoom room)!
If you missed the February kickoff meeting featuring insights from three AAS committees on employment opportunities and challenges, catch the recording now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOMNEQYzN3s&list=PLGdZxC9zWbOo3s1_Vi4XX6ZSuvNe3sgO0
If you haven't signed up yet and would like to be notified of meeting recordings and new agendas, Sign Up Here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScra2aabzdyovTN3zRH5HENK94janhk3j9jgMR_gx-oILVybg/viewform.
The Physics and Astronomy Faculty Teaching Institute (FTI), dedicated to developing faculty members' teaching practice, is the flagship teaching workshop program of the AAS in collaboration withthe American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers. The June 2025 FTI will be held in beautiful College Park, MD, from June 25-28, 2025. Registration will open in late March.
Read More At:
https://www.physport.org/FTI/events/June2025/?S=1
The history of women in astronomy is fascinating and inspiring— women like Caroline Herschel, Phoebe Waterman Haas and Vera Rubin have been making discoveries and contributions in astronomy for over 200 years. In the latest episode of #EZScience, NASA associate administrator for science Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen and Smithsonian Under Secretary for Science and Research Dr. Ellen Stofan celebrate Women’s History Month and discuss the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Read more at:
https://appel.nasa.gov/knowledge-resource/e-z-science-women-in-astronomy/
By: Sage Journal
Astronomy is critical for human development, driving technology and innovation, and creating knowledge that allows humanity to understand the universe more fully. Women, however, remain underrepresented in this field. Many women leave the field before becoming established, yet little is known about women who persist and succeed. The purpose of this study was to explore the abilities, experiences, milestones, and individuals that have contributed to women’s talent development along their trajectories in astronomy, in the specific case of Chile. In-depth interviews were conducted with five talented women in astronomy, who have developed their academic and professional careers in Chile. The results show that micro, meso, and macro levels of influence, in conjunction with different time periods, were critical for the participants’ trajectories and have impacted the direction of women’s paths. The astronomers highlight early experiences, mentor support, validation, and gendered experiences as they navigate their own insecurities and develop self-confidence. Implications for the study of talent development in female astronomers are discusseRead more
Read More At:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00169862241307668
By: National Academies Press
Women of color (WoC) are at the intersection of race and gender. While they experience issues that arise for both women and minority groups, they are often overlooked in efforts on behalf of either category, to the detriment of their persistence in academia.7 The next section of this article enumerates barriers that face WoC in astronomy, starting with those that particularly affect career establishment (early graduate student to postdoctoral) and moving to those that impact later career stages. Later sections describe steps toward solutions to these problems, measures taken by the American Astronomical Society (AAS), and lessons learned from academic programs.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. Seeking Solutions: Maximizing American Talent by Advancing Women of Color in Academia: Summary of a Conference. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/18556.
Read More At:
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/18556/chapter/18
By: Europlanet Magazine
For decades, women have been under-represented in the fields of astronomy and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) due to a variety of factors suppressing their careers. While there have been global efforts in the past to address these issues, they have only been marginally successful and recent global surveys do not show promising trends.
The IAU strategic plan from 2020-2030 aims to address the challenges faced by women in working in astronomy, foster inclusiveness, and facilitate the advancement of the next generation of astronomers. By developing effective policies and action plans, the strategy aims to improve gender-balance and equal opportunity in the workplace.
Read more At:
By: Nature
To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, six award-winning female scientists highlight women who have inspired them by pushing innovative research and creating opportunities for others.
he number of women now entering science, technology, engineering and mathematics and medicine (STEMM) careers is growing at a faster rate than that of men. And although women still account for only about 35% of the STEMM workforce, research has shown that they are more likely to excel when given access to mentoring, support and guidance from other women with similar lived experiences (see go.nature.com/416cjkb).
Read More At:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00620-3
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