The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) has been recognised by the Astronomical Society of Australia for its commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in astronomical sciences and technology.
The University of Western Australia node of ICRAR was presented with a Gold Pleiades Award.
The Pleiades Awards recognise organisations in Australian astronomy that take active steps to advance the careers of a diverse population and strive for sustained improvement in providing opportunities for under represented groups to achieve positions of seniority, influence and recognition.
Brent Groves, who chairs ICRAR-UWA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEI), said that in maintaining Gold status with the Pleiades awards ICRAR-UWA has not only continued its successful initiatives from last round but has tried to continue to push forward in their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program.
“In the last two years, ICRAR-UWA has created a nursing room for all parents, instituted pronoun badges for all ICRAR funding meetings/conferences and organised cultural training workshops and online programs for all staff to participate in,” said Dr Groves.
“While we still have many areas to improve, the support of everyone in ICRAR, especially the executive mean we will continue to take steps to do so!”
ICRAR Executive Director Professor Peter Quinn says he is very proud of the achievements of the ICRAR-UWA DEI Committee lead by Brent.
“ICRAR places a very high priority on ensuring we have a safe, inclusive and supportive workplace in which everyone can achieve their potential.”
“We will continue to improve and expand our DEI efforts on a number of fronts, particularly in these challenging times,” Peter says.
