Photo by NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) Women in Astronomy (WiA) Working Group invites all members of the global astronomy community to participate in a comprehensive survey titled "Fostering Inclusion, Mental Well-being, and Leadership Equity in Astronomy". The deadline for contributions is 15 November 2026.
The survey is open to researchers, technical staff, educators, and administrators across research organisations, observatories, universities, and international collaborations worldwide.
Objectives
Creating effective and sustainable research environments depends on transparent governance, equitable opportunities, supportive working conditions, and healthy collaboration structures.
This initiative aims to map current institutional policies, practices, and organisational structures across the astronomical community. Key focus areas include:
- Governance & Leadership Equity: Transparency in decision-making, recruitment, and promotion criteria.
- Workplace Culture & Well-being: Support structures for mental health, work-life balance, and safe working environments.
- Mentorship & Career Development: Opportunities and sponsorship programs, particularly for underrepresented groups.
- Accessibility & Participation: Infrastructure, digital, and event accessibility frameworks.
- Research & Collaboration Practices: Policies surrounding authorship, project management, and community outreach.
How Your Input Will Be Used
Survey findings will provide a comprehensive overview of current institutional approaches across the global astronomical community. These insights will help identify effective reference practices to be shared across future IAU initiatives. Additionally, the results will be featured in the IAU Women in Astronomy Working Group’s Annual Report and will directly inform the development of the upcoming IAU Gender Equity Plan.
How to Participate
- Take the Survey
- Estimated Time for Completion: Approximately 10 minutes
- Anonymity: Participation is completely voluntary and responses are collected anonymously. Data will be reported exclusively in aggregated form.
- Deadline: 15 November 2026
Contact
For inquiries, potential collaboration, or to highlight effective institutional practices, please contact the Working Group or visit the IAU Women in Astronomy website.
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