Addressing the underrepresentation of women in Astronomy and STEM fields requires proactive efforts. By expressing concerns, increasing awareness, and examining gender equality statistics in research, we can work towards narrowing the gender gap in Astronomy. I am actively engaged in advocating for this cause with the University of Lyon, the European Astronomical Society, and the International Astronomical Union
Since 2023 I have been an Advisory committee member of the European Astronomical Union Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group. Click here to read more- https://eas.unige.ch/edi.jsp
Since 2021 I have been leading the Women in Astronomy working group of the International Astronomical Union as the chairperson. Click here to read more- https://sites.google.com/view/iau-women-in-astronomy/home
In 2019 to mark the Fête de la Science and the 80th anniversary of the CNRS, the Institutes of Nanotechnologies in Lyon released a poster "Femmes de Sciences en Grand Format" to celebrate the work and achievements of women researchers over 80 years. Mamta Pommier was chosen as a CNRS laboratory 'Women in Research' Representative. Click here to read more- https://inl.cnrs.fr/femmes-de-sciences-en-grand-format-80-ans-de-talents/
The French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation recently published the statistics of women in research careers in European projects with one of the main objectives: to provide access to education to girls and female entrepreneurship in academic fields.
This publication highlights the low presence of women in all areas of ministerial action: training in higher education, teaching and research staff, governance bodies, and innovation. The figures published for the year 2019 show marginal improvements. However, the percentage of women in research still remains below or equal to 20%, especially in the fields (Physical Sciences, Management and R & D Management, Mathematics and Software Design, Engineering Sciences 1, Engineering Sciences 2, etc.).
The report also indicates that the percentage of women in these areas continues to decline each year due to a lack of women mentors, local support, and social practices. The goal of our ministry is to help women in science careers and provide 40% of positions to women researchers in 2020. To support this global cause, I am coordinating a 'Societe des femmes chercheuses a l'Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (SFC-UCBL1)' - https://twitter.com/sfcudl - cell as a founder at the University of Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France since 2019.
Click here to read more- https://egalite-diversite.univ-lyon1.fr/2019/04/10/objectif-mentorat-une-societe-de-chercheuses-a-lyon-1/
In 2019 to mark the Fête de la Science and encourage Equality and Diversity at the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Mamta Pommier was chosen as the representative for 'Women Researcher in Astronomy'. Click here to read more-