Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Astronomy

Astronomy is a field concerned with matters very distant from Earth. Most phenomena, whether observed or theorized, transcend human spaces and timescales by orders of magnitude. Yet, many scientists have been interested not just in the events that have occurred millennia before Earth's inception, but also in their very own society here and now.

Since the first half of the twentieth century, an increasing number of them have pursued parallel careers as both academics and activists. Besides publishing peer-reviewed papers, they have promoted a great variety of underrepresented groups within their discipline. Through conferences, newsletters and social media, they have sought to advance the interests of women, members of racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, and disabled people. While these activists have differed in the identities they focus on, they have come to share a conviction that diversity and inclusion are crucial for scientific excellence as well as social justice.

In this book, you will read of the biographies and institutional contexts of key agents in the diversification of modern astronomy. As most are recent figures whose discoveries have not been commemorated by Nobel Prizes, they are relatively unknown among historians of science. They have, however, been central to discussions about who has privileged access to the tools of astronomical inquiry, including powerful telescopes and extensive databases. As such, they have also significantly shaped views of our universe.

“A book series on Space and Society, each written from the perspective of an expert in the social sciences, humanities or the arts, this book describes how astronomers have sought to reduce injustice and inequality, with the goal of broadening participation in astronomy. … It is an important book that sets out the context of a movement that is being increasingly dragged into the ‘culture wars’ raging in various nations right now.” (nature astronomy Vol. 8 (4), April, 2024)

Jörg Matthias Determann is Professor of History at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. He is the author of four books including Islam, Science Fiction and Extraterrestrial Life and Space Science and the Arab World. He has also written for journals like Science and Nature Astronomy.