How cost impacts equitable participation in astronomy outreach events

TL;DR

This paper examines how financial barriers and event logistics influence diversity in astronomy outreach programs, highlighting the need for inclusive funding strategies to broaden participation from underrepresented regions.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of how cost, location, and leadership impact participant diversity in long-standing astronomy outreach events, emphasizing the importance of equitable funding.

Findings

Participation from eastern Europe and Africa has decreased over time.

Cost and location significantly influence participant nationality diversity.

Funding disparities limit access for less privileged groups.

Abstract

The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) is an astronomy education outreach event with more than 50 years of history and over 1,700 unique participants from 81 nationalities. The International Workshop for Astronomy e.V. (IWA) is the non-profit organization behind the IAYC, established in 1979 and based in Germany. The IAYC's unprecedented longevity in a rapidly globalizing world has meant that financial inequities decreases the reach of the camp to people from the Global South compared to Global North countries. Though nationalities represented per camp has increased steadily since its inception, the share of participants from eastern Europe and Africa has dropped, while those from western Europe and North America have increased. This note examines how camp cost, location, and leadership affects nationality diversity amongst participants, and how astronomy outreach events must reckon with funding for less privileged participants with limited access to resources.