We all have ideas about how astronomy can (and should) be changed for the better, but have you ever wondered how to actually go about making that change happen? Or thought that you were too junior to make a difference? If so, consider applying for this workshop that is specifically aimed at getting junior astronomers involved in the planning the upcoming 2020 Decadal Survey.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will be hosting an Early Career Focus Session for the Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics (Astro2020) in Washington, D.C. on October 8-9, 2018. According to the email invitation to apply to participate in the session, the purpose of this session is to “to provide an opportunity for early career astronomers and astrophysicists to contribute to the decadal survey process. Participants will have the chance to provide input regarding the structure of the decadal survey, the state of the profession, and the future of astronomy and astrophysics.”
Participating in this session will give those of us in the early stages of our careers an opportunity to help direct the focus of the astronomical community for the coming decade. The focus session will be composed of both informational topics on science policy and the decadal survey development, as well as discussion sessions.
The deadline for to apply for this focus session is July 16, 2018 at 5 pm EST. If you have any questions regarding the event, contact Mia Brown at mbrown@nas.edu. For more information on the decadal survey, check out AstroBetter’s previous posts on the topic.