Girls in the Museum: Pursuing Gender Equity in Astronomy

Figueiró Spinelli, Patrícia; Sá Matos, Cláudia; Bassallo, Taysa; Benítez-Herrera, Sandra; Germano, Ana Paula; do Nascimento, Josina; Daflon, Simone
Bibliographical reference

IAU Symposium

Advertised on:
3
2026
Number of authors
7
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
Gender imbalance in the sciences is a problem that affects society as a whole. Attracting more women to science is a matter of welcoming 50% of the intellectual capacity of humankind. As institutions, science museums have the mission of expanding society access to scientific knowledge and encouraging the excitement of discovery. Further, they must also engage diverse audiences and address the many facets of inclusion. Therefore, it is fundamental to reflect on gender issues and adapt the content of exhibits and activities to be inclusive. The Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences (MAST) has long been aware of its potential to promote social change and empowerment. Since 2015, MAST promotes a series of actions to stimulate discussion, acknowledge the contribution of female researchers to progress as well as encourage girls to explore scientific career paths through astronomy activities. All initiatives are built on theoretical perspectives of social inclusion, gender in sciences and informal science education. This article will review the "Girls in the Museum" action and present its most important results.