Women of the Future in the Royal Astronomical Society

TL;DR

This paper explores the future of women in UK astronomy, analyzing current trends to predict when gender equality might be achieved in the Royal Astronomical Society and related areas.

Contribution

It provides a forward-looking analysis of gender equality progress in UK astronomy based on historical trends and projections.

Findings

Projected timeline for gender parity in RAS membership

Predicted timeline for equal representation among speakers and award winners

Discussion on when gender may become irrelevant in astronomy conversations

Abstract

In this article we wonder what the next 100 years will bring for women in astronomy in the UK. After this year of looking back and celebrating 100 years of women in the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), we now ask: what might the future hold? Extrapolating current trends, when might we expect equality in the genders of RAS members, speakers at meetings, award winners and more? Ultimately, when might we stop needing to talk about women in astronomy at all - when it will be as irrelevant to the conversation about astronomy as being a male astronomer is?