ASI 2014 : IISER, Mohali
A special session on "Women and Gender related issues in Indian astronomy" was proposed as part of the 2014 annual meeting of the Astronomical Society of India, by the signatories below. The session was approved by the organising committee of ASI-2014 and took place on 21st March in IISER-Mohali. An informal session on this topic was organised by some members of the ASI in the last meeting (2013) at IISER-TVM. This year that activity was given a more formal shape.
Proposal Signatories :
Annapurni Subramaniam, IIAP, Bangalore
Bhaswati Mookerjea, TIFR, Mumbai
Jasjeet Singh Bagla, IISER, Mohali
Kuntal Misra, ARIES, Nainital
Niruj Mohan, NCRA-TIFR, Pune
Resmi Lakshmi, IIST, Thiruvananthapuram
Sushan Konar, NCRA-TIFR, Pune
T R Seshadri, University of Delhi
Session Moderator : T. R. Seshadri, University of Delhi
1. Introduction & Summary of the ASI 2013 Gender Session
- Sushan Konar & Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, NCRA-TIFR, Pune
2. Current Statistics on Women in Indian Astronomy
- Preeti Kharb, IIA, Bangalore
3. Structural Interventions Towards Gender Equity: Seeding or Hindering Cultural Change?
- Prajval Shastri, IIA, Bangalore
4. break ke baad : Getting back to research after a break
- Pushpa Khare, IUCAA, Pune
5. Alternative Career Options
- N. Rathnasree, Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi
6. A survey of gender issues in Astronomy
- Niruj Mohan, NCRA-TIFR, Pune
7. Breaking the Silence : A human resource problem..
- Sushan Konar, NCRA-TIFR, Pune
This year the session consisted of the above invited talks followed by an open discussion. The general body felt that a working group, under the aegis of ASI, should be formed to look into the gender-related issues.
ASI 2013 : IISER, Trivandrum
Several points emerged out of last years discussion. Some of the pertinent
issues are as follows -
a. to increase the participation of women at all levels,
b. to promote gender awareness and creating a gender-sensitive community,
c. to address the question of career break,
d. introduce proper mentoring schemes for young women,
e. promote awareness of GoI schemes for women scientists, etc.