Only 1% of Physics PhDs awarded to US citizens were to Black students in 2019 (according to the American Institute of Physics). In celebration of Juneteenth, we’ve invited the Black In Astro team to chat about their mission to support and highlight Black people in space science-related fields. We hear about their trajectories in space sciences and astronomy and their perspectives on the future. This episode’s release also marks the beginning of Black Space Week hosted by Black in Astro! They tell us how the celebration will be bigger and better in 2023 to continue celebrating Black scientists worldwide. 

Black In Astro: https://www.blackinastro.com/

Black Space Week 2023: https://www.blackinastro.com/posters-and-advertisements-for-bsw2023

Juneteenth: https://www.nytimes.com/article/juneteenth-day-celebration.html

Black Representation in Physics & Astronomy: https://astrobites.org/2020/06/12/blackinastro-black-representation-in-astro-physics-and-the-impact-of-discrimination/

American Institute of Physics Report: https://www.aip.org/statistics/reports/trends-physics-phds-171819

Articles: 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-021-00361-5

https://hbr.org/2019/11/the-costs-of-codeswitching

https://onezero.medium.com/a-break-up-letter-with-astronomy-from-a-young-black-woman-a30de24fe209

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2022/02/11/does-academia-actually-want-black-professors/?sh=6af2a1b1f4ca

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-diversity-makes-us-smarter/