Session Overview

This session will tackle the challenges researchers face in balancing mental health and work-life harmony within competitive academic environments, such as Astronomy and Space Science. We will approach these issues both philosophically, with insights from economists and philosophers, and practically, through discussions with experts involved in funding and hiring committees (ERC, MCs, ESO/ESA fellowships).

Key goals include:

• 1. Promote Mental Well-Being: Discuss the impact of stress, burnout, precariousness, and mental health issues in research, and explore strategies to foster a healthier, more sustainable approach to academic work.
• 2. Enhance Work-Life Balance: Examine effective practices that help researchers maintain a fulfilling work-life balance, ensuring personal well-being while meeting professional tasks, ambitions, and expectations.
• 3. Address the Child Penalty and Gender Gap: Highlight how caregiving responsibilities, especially those linked to parenthood, disproportionately affect women and contribute to the gender gap in research. Discuss policy changes, institutional support, and cultural shifts necessary to mitigate these inequalities.
• 4. Create Inclusive, Supportive Environments: Explore how academic institutions and research organizations can cultivate environments that support diverse personal circumstances, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and productive research culture.
• 5. Ensure Equitable Access to Big Astronomical Data: Discuss the challenges and inequalities researchers face in accessing large-scale astronomical data, tools, and resources. Address how disparities in access?due to geographic location, institutional affiliation, or funding?can affect researchers' ability to contribute to the field, and explore strategies for democratizing access to data and fostering a more inclusive global research community.

Programme

Invited speakers

Confirmed:
• Abigail Frost European Southern Observatory
• Andreas Keil ERC Management
• Anita Heward Europlanet
• Dominic Vertue IAU Office of Astronomy for Development
• Eleni Chatzichristou ERC Policy Analyst
• Emilio Molinari INAF
• Gaitee Hussain Head of Science Division, European Space Agency
• Ilenia Picardi University of Naples Federico II
• Maura Gancitano Tlon
• Mark Westmoquette Astrophysicist and Zen meditation and yoga teacher
• Paola Popesso Deputy Head of European Southern Observatory Office for Science

Additional confirmed panelists for open discussion:
• SIlvia Piranomonte INAF
• Sara Bonito INAF
• Beth Williams LSST Discovery Alliance Chief Executive Officer (USA)

Scientific organisers

Contact

laura.inno @ uniparthenope.it