Astro2020 APC White Paper: Findings and Recommendations from the AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy: Advancing the Career Development of Women in Astronomy

TL;DR

This white paper advocates for federal agencies to lead efforts in improving career development and workplace conditions for women and minorities in astronomy, aiming for significant diversity and inclusion progress by 2030.

Contribution

It provides specific policy recommendations for federal agencies to promote diversity, inclusion, and career advancement for underrepresented groups in astronomy.

Findings

Structural barriers to success for women and minorities persist.

Programs like NSF-INCLUDES and NSF-ADVANCE have shown success.

Policy changes can significantly improve diversity outcomes.

Abstract

The Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (CSWA) is calling on federal science funding agencies, in their role as the largest sources of funding for astronomy in the United States, to take actions that will advance career development and improve workplace conditions for women and minorities in astronomy. Funding agencies can and should lead the charge to produce excellent diversity and inclusion outcomes in our field by the 2030 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. Anecdotal and quantitative evidence, gathered both by the CSWA and other groups, shows that many structural barriers to success remain in our community. We acknowledge the success of programs like NSF-INCLUDES and NSF-ADVANCE and endorse their continued work. We also recommend further action to remove barriers to success for women and minority astronomers. Key recommendations are: - Federal agencies should push academic institutions to reconsider their support systems for scientists by requiring a high standard of pay and benefits. - Federal agencies should fund research and programs that explore and implement strategies for improving the experiences of scientists. - Federal agencies should require Principal Investigators (PIs) to provide plans for creating inclusive work environments and mentoring young scientists.