Women and Girls in Astronomy

An IAU Outreach Global Project

Overview

The Women and Girls in Astronomy project recognises the role of women in advancing science and encourages girls to consider careers in astronomy. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) strongly encourages activities throughout the year, with a particular focus between two International Days adopted by the United Nations: the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February and International Women’s Day on 8 March.

In 2022, the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) with the IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) supported a number of virtual and in-person events that took place between 11 February 2022 and 8 March 2022 and recognised the contributions of women and girls in astronomy. Other OAO activities included an online campaign and a contest.

In this year’s edition of Women and Girls in Astronomy IAU Outreach Global Project, the OAO collaborated with the IAU Executive Committee Working Group Women in Astronomy. We thank them for their support and guidance.

Calendar of Events

In 2022, there were over 250 events hosted or supported by one of our 130+ NOCs or other organisers from the astronomy outreach community around the world. These events, showcased on the IAU Global Outreach Events Calendar, are expected to have engaged over 3000 people.

Meet Astronomers from around the world

Throughout the project, the OAO organised and streamed interviews with notable astronomers from around the world, including Jessica D. Mink, Harvard Smithsonian CfA, Silvia Torres-Peimbert, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ilhuiyolitzin Villicana-Pedraza, New Mexico State University, USA, and Amelia Ortiz-Gil, University of Valencia Astronomical Observatory, Spain. The OAO also invited IAU members to share short videos introducing their lives, careers and why inclusion matter.

Watch the interviews and videos on the 2022 Women and Girls in Astronomy Playlist:

Social Media Campaign

Through the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) social media channels, we initiated an online campaign that sparked hundreds of posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Not only were the OAO’s channels were activated, but on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the hashtag #WomeninAstronomy was used in more than 300 posts. The community used this hashtag to share events and resources, celebrate historical and contemporary female astronomers, and invite girls to follow a career in astronomy.

Visit OAO’s Twitter and Facebook, or search for the hashtags #WomenInAstronomy and #WomanInSTEM to discover resources, activities and the astronomers who inspire you.

Draw an Astronomer Contest

In collaboration with the IAU Executive Committee Working Group Women in Astronomy and Stars Shine for Everyone (Sterren Schitteren voor Iedereen; SSVI), the OAO organised the Draw an Astronomer contest, in which kids up to the age of 12 shared their vision of an astronomer. We received 782 entries from 20 countries, each displaying the ingenuity and creativity of the next generation of astronomers. The winner was randomly selected and received an SSVI in a Box telescope, courtesy of SSVI.

Congratulations to Teodora Andreea Vasilică from Romania for winning the Draw an Astronomer contest!