She is an Astronomer: breaking down misconceptions

Promoting gender equality and empowering women is one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. She Is An Astronomer will promote gender equality in astronomy (and science in general), tackling bias issues by providing a web platform where information and links about gender balance and related resources are collected.

The aim of the project is to provide neutral, informative and accessible information to female professional and amateur astronomers, students, and those who are interested in the gender equality problem in science. We believe that providing this information will help increase the interest of young females to study and pursue a career in astronomy.

An objective of the project is to build and maintain an internet based, easy-to-handle forum and database, where people regardless of geographical location can read about the subject, ask questions and find answers. There will also be the option to discuss astronomy sector specific problems, such as observing times and family duties.

UN Millenium Development Goals

Task Group
Helen Walker (UK, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) - Chair

Francesca Primas (ESO)
Eniko Patkos (Hungary, ESO)
Catherine Cesarsky (France, CEA)
Chris De Pree (USA, Agnes Scott College of Atlanta)
Mary Beth Laychak (USA, Hawaii, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope)
Maria Lugaro (Italy, currently at the Astronomical Institute, University of Utrecht)
Gloria Dubner (Argentina, Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio)
Yiping Wang (China, Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing)
Sarah Maddison (Australia, Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology)
Danielle Alloin (France, CNRS)
Lebohang William Kompi (Lesotho, National University of Lesotho)
Patricia Knezek (USA, NOAO, Tucson)
Doug Duncan (USA, Dept. of Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado)