Tuesday, May 26, 2020

CSWA Meet & Greet Panel

AAS 236: CSWA Virtual Meet and Greet
Tuesday, June 2, 6:40 pm ET


The Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (CSWA) is hosting a panel during the AAS Virtual Meeting centered around discussions related to career challenges in our academic and research fields. Members of the diversity committees* will be present to address issues common to all of us, so please fill out the survey to indicate the topics of most interest to you.

Panelists include: Rolf Danner, SGMA; Nicole Cabrera Salazar, CSMA; Jackie Monkiewicz, WGAD; and Stella Kafka, CSWA (Moderator).


Date: Tuesday, June 2 
Time: 6:40 pm ET




* AAS diversity committees include the CSWA, CSMA (Committee on the Status of Minorities in Astronomy), SGMA (Committee for Sexual-Orientation & Gender Minorities in Astronomy), and WGAD (Working Group on Accessibility and Disability).

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Cross-post: What are the impacts of performing a Decadal Survey during a global pandemic?

Image of solar system with orbits of planets shown.

The following post was written and contributed by the members of the Professional Culture and Climate Subcommittee of the AAS’s DPS.

The Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey is a once-in-ten-years opportunity for the research community to provide critical input into the U.S. strategy for space research. The survey is in its early stages; nominations for panel membership were due on May 1st, and white papers (a major form of community input[1]) are due July 4th.

However, since the Statement of Task for this Decadal Survey was formulated, the coronavirus pandemic has caused major disruption throughout our society, including in the work of planetary scientists. Of greatest concern for the Decadal Survey, this burden falls unevenly. For example, the pandemic has disproportionately affected the scientific productivity of women researchers[2], and racial and ethnic minority communities overall[3].

Read more at

https://womeninplanetaryscience.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/what-are-the-impacts-of-performing-a-decadal-survey-during-a-global-pandemic/

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Words w/ Astronomers

By Pat Knezek and Nicolle Zellner, CSWA Co-Chairs

As we enter the second month of remote instruction for many of us, with just a few more weeks to go until the end of the semester, and as we continue to endure and exit from "safer at home" orders that limit physical interactions, we share with you positive, inspiring words and images that will remind us to take of ourselves and each other.



"In these difficult times as I am simultaneously juggling my role as professional, parent, and teacher of my kids, I am thankful every day for what I have: a wonderful job as Astronomer that inspires the world and a healthy family united under the same roof 24/7."


"My silver lining of being at home is the time and space to nurture a calming hobby."


Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world.