OH YES WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE CONSCIOUS ABSENCE OF BLACK AND POC VOICES AT SPACE SCIENCE CONFERENCES
I say conscious because organizers know. THEY KNOW. Space science conferences are one of THE WORST offenders for *not* making inclusion a priority.
How do I know space science conferences are some of the worst offenders at NOT making inclusion a priority? I AM GLAD YOU ASKED.
One of my favorite questions to ask space science conferences is, Are black people allowed at your conference?
Asking, Are black people allowed at your space science conference, is the most straightforward and honest way to address this issue of rosters of folks nearly all of whom are white.
You know, like @Spacefest.
You know, like @Spacefest.
Though, judging from their recent tweets, you’d think @Spacefest was part of the revolution.
But no, they’re not.
But no, they’re not.
This is classic, actually. It’s what I call publicly down. As in they seem down in public but as my friend @_survoh puts it
And @Spacefest is one I’ve been calling out for years.
This past year they got the ratio of women to men correct.
However, as I pointed out, 2019 had a single listed guest who was black–on a roster of SIXTY space science professionals.
However, as I pointed out, 2019 had a single listed guest who was black–on a roster of SIXTY space science professionals.
Diversity at space science conferences is a major thing for me and I have @maejemison to thank for it. Dr Jemison’s 2012 @100YSS changed the way I look at conferences.
One of the conferences I have worked with for years–and which gets better and better and better with regards to making diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (!!) integral to the conference’s culture–is @SEDSSpaceVision.
It is upon all of us as space professionals to call out space conferences that fail to make diversity, inclusion, AND accessibility part of their mandate.
I have LOTS of allies on inclusion and diversity at space conferences! @DrSianProctor and I are 100% on this.
Another is @Pomerantz. There are few more consistent and thoughtful allies to insure space conference representation is real. Will's work with @sedsusa has led to remarkable outcomes–from scholarships to SEDS chapters at HBCU to support in taking stands when the moment demands.
Another amazing ally is @theresejones0. THE WORK THIS PERSON DOES FOR INCLUSION. Literally paved the way for @aiaa.
And believe me @aiaa needs it. Unexpected upside to the pandemic's cancelling conferences? It is @ascendspace got scrubbed.
Maybe ASCEND Space will add space professionals who are Black to the lineup now that folks are noticing? #BlacklLivesMatter
Maybe ASCEND Space will add space professionals who are Black to the lineup now that folks are noticing? #BlacklLivesMatter
A part of the problem is the word service these organizations put on about inclusion, equality, & accessibility. Show of hands: How many of us have had our time wasted by conference organizers WHO REACHED OUT TO US to help "do it right"? Only to get nada.
Which is how we got here. The time for conversation is gone. We tried that. WE HAVE BEEN SAYING "MAKE IT DIVERSE" FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
NO MORE "but we are trying" IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND NO YOU ARE NOT.
"We are trying" is not going to cut it.
YOU ARE IN ATLANTA. BOEING IS THERE. LOCKHEED.
THERE ARE SPACE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE BLACK
YOU ARE IN ATLANTA. BOEING IS THERE. LOCKHEED.
THERE ARE SPACE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE BLACK
The @NSS has opened the door for conversation and action. They work to make changes (thank you, Geoff!) and have begun to make serious and genuine organizational shifts to insure inclusion.
For instance, we are working on MANY MORE representative speakers of Indian descent.
For instance, we are working on MANY MORE representative speakers of Indian descent.
Let me give a shout to @LorettaWhtsides and @YurisNight.
Is there movement forward? That's a good question. Here's @NewSpaceCon four years ago:
And here's the upcoming @NewSpaceCon. See any difference? 12 named speakers, none are black. And 3–of TWELVE–are women.
See why folks are upset? #BLM
See why folks are upset? #BLM
You may think it makes me crazy that the idea of getting space science professionals who are women who are black–YES BLACK WOMEN SPACE SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS THATS RIGHT–at space science conferences seems as challenging to the world as, say, clean nuclear fusion. Well
Props to @__katrinarenee for inspiring this day-long thread. Speaking of space professionals who are black women, check out and support #IAmSTEMProject.
Folks have been asking where to put money–@evan_greer, hi!–well here’s an amazing place to start. #blm iamstemproject.org
Folks have been asking where to put money–@evan_greer, hi!–well here’s an amazing place to start. #blm iamstemproject.org
