Lightning talks on International Women’s Day 2023 at the Observatory

9 March 2023

Image showing the speakers Maria Pereira, Sarah Casura, Deepali Deepali, Gabriella di Gennaro, Giulia Lusetti, Lovorka Gajović, Sriyasriti Acharya (from left to right) and Dragana Ilić (joined online)

Photo: Quantum Universe

Speakers: Maria Pereira, Sarah Casura, Deepali, Gabriella di Gennaro, Giulia Lusetti, Lovorka Gajović, Sriyasriti Acharya (from left to right) and Dragana Ilić (joined online)

The Lightning Talks on Wednesday, 8th March were the finale in a series of events on diversity and inclusion in science at the Hamburg Observatory. The events were organized by women researchers of the Observatory, and inspired by the established IAU project “Women and Girls in Astronomy”.

The events took place between the UN’s “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” (11th February) and “International Women's Day” (8th March). They provided insights in the speakers’ research as well as room for discussion and networking opportunities.

In the Lightning Talks Dr. Sriyasriti Acharya, Deepali, Lovorka Gajović, Dr. Gabriella di Gennaro, Giulia Lusetti as well as organizers Dr. Maria Pereira, Dr. Sarah Casura and Prof. Dragana Ilić each provided a brief overview of their scientific work ranging from galaxies to clusters and gravitational waves. Part of the series of events was also a seminar on February 22nd given by Dr. Andrea Gokus from Washington University, St. Louis. Dr. Gokus talked about Working Towards a Sustainable Future for Astronomy with ‘Astronomers for Planet Earth’.

On March 1st a panel discussion on women in science and astronomy was held at the Observatory. Panelists were Dr. Veronica Allen, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute and member of the EAS DEI Committee, Henriette Ullmann, Diversity Officer at Quantum Universe and Dr. Maria Pereira, a Brazilian postdoc and Diversity Equity and Inclusion activist working at the Hamburg Observatory. The discussion covered career prospects, work environment and care work in science.

All events were open to everyone interested, non-respective of their gender. With these formats, the organizers aimed to create awareness that diversity, gender and care-giving are not only relevant for women in science, but for everyone.