She is an Astronomer Lesotho: Women Empowerment Through Astronomy
International Year of Astronomy 2009 had the aim of contributing to four of the UN Millennium Development Goals, of which one is to “promote gender equality and empower women”. Approximately a quarter of professional astronomers are women, and the field continues to attract women and benefit from their participation. However, there is a wide geographical diversity, with some countries having none, and others having more than 50% female professional astronomers. Also, the very high level of female dropouts shows that circumstances do not favour female scientists. Gender equality is of a major concern to the whole scientific community regardless of its geographic location. The problems and difficulties are different in all regions and continents. IYA2009’s She is an astronomer programme offers platforms that address some of these problems.
She is an astronomer contains the following components:
Ø The Portal to the Universe global web portal will provide a collection of links to all the existing regional and national programmes, associations, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, grants and fellowships supporting female scientists.
Ø Part of the programme appears in the Cosmic Diary featuring the work and family lives of female researchers.
Ø The project intends to seek cooperation agreement with prestigious already running initiatives, to provide fellowships to female scientists to support their career chances.
Ø A Woman Astronomer Ambassador programme will be established to reach girls at high school and university level with the messages of the programme.
The above project was matched with what is called EML Girls and Programme where women especially girls are being assisted and motivated to embark on science and technology related issues. The programme started in February 2007 and is done on a joined adventure with Lesotho Commission for UNESCO. The current format is to take advantage of astronomy to try and engage more women and girls to embark on science through the use of astronomy, where a cornerstone project ‘She is an Astronomer’ would be given a big shot out in Lesotho. Visit www.sheisanastronomer.org for more infomation
She is an astronomer contains the following components:
Ø The Portal to the Universe global web portal will provide a collection of links to all the existing regional and national programmes, associations, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, grants and fellowships supporting female scientists.
Ø Part of the programme appears in the Cosmic Diary featuring the work and family lives of female researchers.
Ø The project intends to seek cooperation agreement with prestigious already running initiatives, to provide fellowships to female scientists to support their career chances.
Ø A Woman Astronomer Ambassador programme will be established to reach girls at high school and university level with the messages of the programme.
The above project was matched with what is called EML Girls and Programme where women especially girls are being assisted and motivated to embark on science and technology related issues. The programme started in February 2007 and is done on a joined adventure with Lesotho Commission for UNESCO. The current format is to take advantage of astronomy to try and engage more women and girls to embark on science through the use of astronomy, where a cornerstone project ‘She is an Astronomer’ would be given a big shot out in Lesotho. Visit www.sheisanastronomer.org for more infomation