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The IAU XXVI GA
Women in Astronomy Meeting luncheon was held on Monday 21 August. The WAM
ran from 12.30pm to 2.00pm and all IAU delegates were invited. The
meeting was held in the Small Hall on the ground floor of the Prague Congress Centre.
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Summary
The second working lunch of the IAU Working Group on Women in Astronomy was attended by more than 300 people from
49 countries, including the IAU Presidents (past, current and future) and 8% men. The theme of the lunch was
Career Development for Women with two keynote speakers, Pat Knezek of the National Optical Astronomy
Observatory and Sunetra Giridhar of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. The speeches were followed by break
out groups of 10-12 who discused various issues over lunch, focusing on changes in the status of women in astronomy
since the 2003 General Assembly in Sydney and strategies that will improve the environment for all astronomers.
Specific issues raised and submitted to the incoming IAU Executive included:
(1) ensure adequate representation for women in IAU bodies, on Science
Organizing Committees and as invited speakers for Symposia, (2) make the
provision of childcare at meetings, either supplied or paid for, a priority.
It was also mentioned that the IAU gender statistics gives an incomplete picture because
younger astronomers, both men and women, are not usually members of the
IAU.
It was also noted that subtle discrimination still exists; merit criteria for awards, promotions and jobs are
often biased against women; non-standard career paths (often affecting women) are a disadvantage for
career development; and finally that the 2-body problem (how to progress two careers equitably) often disadvantages
women more than men.
A brief report on the outcomes was printed in the IAU Newspaper and a more detailed report was included in the IAU Information Bulletin 99.
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| Sunetra Giridhar |
Pat Knezek |
Breakout session |
WAM Organising Committee
Co-chairs: Anne Green (Sydney) & Sarah Maddison (Swinburne)
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![[WAM logo]](wami-logo6.gif){kind=logo}