Diversity, inclusion, equity and support are crucial ingredients for the emergence of creative ideas and innovation, the building blocks of research. It is particularly important for Early Career Astronomers (ECAs) to connect and learn navigating the academic system in permanent evolution (e.g., responding to pandemic, climate change and diversity crises). Securing the next job, building a mentoring network, finding support at work while ultimately developing a sustainable behavior is important, yet challenging, particularly for underrepresented minorities in astronomy. Such issues must be addressed simultaneously internationally and at the level of individual institutions. This Early Career Astronomy Day at EAS 2025 aims to bring together scientists across generations to take the practical next steps addressing career challenges.

We invite astronomers from all career stages to participate in our session, to be involved as mentors and mentees, advisors and to share experiences and ideas throughout the sessions for how to best support early career astronomers. We particularly would also love to hear from astronomers with traditionally marginalized backgrounds and/or that are part of underrepresented groups in astronomy.

Programme

Wednesday, 25th of June:

• Block 1 (09:00 - 10:30): Career Tools for Early Researchers
  • Developments of NOVA-SKIES Programme: Impact of Early-career astronomers on innovation (contributed talk)
  • EDI for your future (contributed talk)
  • The 21 Group -- a Resource for Early Career Researchers (contributed talk)
• Block 2 (15:00 - 16:30): Combining Motherhood with Academia
  • Being a Mother and, a Scientist (contributed talk)
  • Empowering Young Women for Success in Astronomy (contributed talk)
  • Falling Through the Cracks: How Fertility Challenges Impact Women's Careers (contributed talk)
• Block 3 (17:00 - 18:30): Panel Discussion
  • 5 years ECA session at the EAS annual meeting
  • Panel discussion on the way forward for Early Career Astronomers

Invited speakers

• Maria C. Ramirez Tannus (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)
• Kathryn Kreckel (ZAH/ARI, Universität Heidelberg)
• Katherine Lee (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)
• Emma Whelan (Maynooth University)
• Emily Hunt (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)

Scientific organisers

• Anne Inkenhaag University of Bath, UK
• Cormac Larkin Heidelberg University & MPIK, Germany
• Roel Lefever Heidelberg University, Germany, co-chair, contact person
• Soheb Mandhai University of Manchester, UK
• Parita Mehta University of Warsaw, Poland
• Prakruti Sudarshan MPIA, Germany, co-chair
• Jakob van den Eijnden University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Jia Wei Teh Heidelberg University, Germany

Contact

Roel Lefever: roel.lefever @ uni-heidelberg.de