She is an astronomer

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She is an astronomer
Margarita Safonova Indian Institute of
Astrophysics, PDF, TAUVEX project
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• One of the IYA 11 cornerstone project and one of
  the 4 UN Millennium Development Goals to promote
  gender equality and empower women.
• Approximately a quarter of professional
  astronomers are women. However, there is a wide
  geographical diversity, with some countries
  having none, and others having more than 50
  female professional astronomers. Also, the very
  high level of female dropouts shows that
  circumstances do not favour female scientists.
  Gender equality is of a major concern to the
  whole scientific community regardless of its
  geographic location. The problems and
  difficulties are different in all regions and
  continents. This programme will offer platforms
  that address some of these problems.

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Some thoughts I have

• Approximately a quarter of professional
  astronomers are women.
• The problems and difficulties are different in
  all regions and continents.
• There is a wide geographical diversity, with some
  countries having none, and others having more
  than 50 female professional astronomers.
• This programme will offer platforms that address
  some of these problems.

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Approximately a quarter of professional
astronomers are women.

• 1992, Workshop at STScI Status of Women in
  astronomy.
• 15 worldwide women astronomers. An
  increase-good sign?
• Men leave science as it gives much less money and
  go into more highly paid areas, e.g. industry,
  law, IT, etc, while women prefer stable job even
  though with low salary and rewards.
• Women are forced to perform more technical,
  non-creative tasks that give neither required
  peer acknowledgment nor real job satisfaction.
• Women remain on second roles, as poorly-paid
  helpers.
• The higher a woman goes up the carrier ladder the
  less air remains for her.
• According to a survey in Bogdanova I.,
  Women in science yesterday, today, tomorrow,
  Sociological Sciences, 2004.
  Example

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Example Germany

• Women 52 at entrance to science streams
• 48 become students
• Scientific degree receive 30
• Stay to teach at the university 12
• Receive professorship 6

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Example Bangalore

• IISc astrogroup4 faculty, 1 woman (since 1980).
• RRI astrogroup12 faculty, no women.
• IIA 50 faculty, 7 women, 2 retired.
• CREST, Kodaikanal, VBO no women
• ISAC astrodivision 5 total, 13 recently joined
  young JRFs.

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The problems and difficulties are different in
all regions and continents.

• Difficult to comment and to agree!
• Education at primary level is the key.

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There is a wide geographical diversity, with some
countries having none, and others having more
than 50 female professional astronomers.

• Some countries indeed have none BUT
• I do not know countries that have gt50 female
  astronomers! Even in Russia, thats generally was
  not so bad -tage in physico-mathematical
  sciences 35.5 in 1993. However, in 2006
  selection to the Russian Academy of Sciences
  (total selected gt150 academicians and members)
  no women at all present statistics
• 467 academicians /9 women/ and
• 697 correspondent members /27 women/

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This programme will offer platforms that address
some of these problems.

• Project description
• The project, currently named "She is an
  astronomer _at_ success.com", is internet based in
  order to get the maximum geographical scope. One
  of the pillars
• "Her Cosmic Diary" blog Well-known female
  astronomers chosen based on a fair geographical
  distribution will be asked to present themselves
  as part of the IYA2009 Cosmic Diary blog their
  carrier path, professional and part of their
  private life in essays and pictures.

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Why astronomy?

• The oldest science in the world it was
  instrumental in development of a Man
• One of the most esthetic and appealing sciences
  approachable
• Sky is available to everyone, makes astronomy
  accessible
• The closest science to be the science of
  everything, it encompasses the Universe,
  everything we know, makes it connectable
• Thus, astronomy is the best avenue to introduce
  science and scientific processes to students and
  the public, to characterize science as the
  adventure of discovery, to link to other sciences
  in interdisciplinary ways.
• How to encourage children and public to become
  interested in science?
• Through astronomy with its many -ables it is
  possible to begin a creation of a science
  literate workforce and society!

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Nature sciences (EVS) 5th class
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The first part of the textbook total 4 parts.
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