ICTS

This two-day workshop will bring together women researchers in astronomy and astrophysics in India for a unique blend of scientific exchange and dialogue on gender equity.

Indian women are at the forefront of many areas of astrophysics today – from the Sun, stars to galaxies, galaxy clusters, accretion disks, cosmology, and gravitational waves. Yet, persistent structural barriers limit equity in opportunities and recognition. This meeting is designed both as a platform to showcase cutting-edge astrophysical research and as a forum to address systemic challenges faced by women in the field.

The program will feature invited and contributed talks across diverse domains will be interwoven with equity-focused discussions, culminating in structured mentoring and networking opportunities.

The program is timely: the Indian astronomy community is expanding rapidly, with new facilities such as SKA-India, Thirty Meter Telescope, LIGO-India, and Aditya-L1. Ensuring equity and representation within such large-scale collaborations is critical to the future of the discipline.

With participation from ~50 on-site attendees and ~50 online participants, the workshop aims to strengthen networks, provide visibility to younger researchers through posters and short talks, and lay the groundwork for a recurring national platform at the intersection of science and equity.

Eligibility criteria: Graduate students, postdocs, and faculty in astronomy and astrophysics. Researchers of any gender are welcome to register. Both on-site and online participation available.

The program is committed to inclusivity and encourages abstract submissions and registrations from researchers of all genders who meet the eligibility criteria. The talk/poster can be about either science or gender equity issues or both.

Accommodation will be provided for outstation participants at our on campus guest house. We will be unable to provide domestic travel support but airport/station pick-up/drop can be provided.

ICTS is committed to building an environment that is inclusive, non discriminatory and welcoming of diverse individuals. We especially encourage the participation of women and other under-represented groups.