#a4esymposium — Public Fediverse posts

Thanks to everyone who joined the #A4ESymposium this week!

All recorded sessions will be available on our youtube, and if you would like to get more involved with #A4E, check out our website where you can sign up to be a member:

https://astronomersforplanet.earth/join-us/

Violette Impellizerri: "Stay honest, but maintain optimism"

#A4ESymposium #ClimateChange

"I was very positively surprised by how well and interactive this meeting was. This demonstrated how the future of meetings should look like"

#A4ESymposium

To summarise the #A4ESymposium, we are some discussing key takeaways from this week. Some notable outcomes and quotes from this session: 1/n

"The antidote to despair is action." -- quoted by Mandeep Gill at the @a4e #A4Esymposium from a Californian nature conservation group.

Fatemeh Z. Majidi (@[email protected] ) spoke about how seeing drought kill many fish was the catalyst to wanting to do something.

"It's amazing to be in a community of people who say they will do things, and then actually do them"

#A4ESymposium

And we are live with the closing session of #A4ESymposium 2022. Follow on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b34vpsKxRGE

In just under an hour we have the final session of the #A4ESymposium ! Join us on zoom or youtube for the closing plenary and final remarks. Meet link: https://indico.icc.ub.edu/event/167/timetable/#20221128.detailed

Starting now: a workshop focused on India. 'Climate challenges and opportunities for astronomy and space sciences'. See the timetable for the Google Meet link: https://indico.icc.ub.edu/event/167/contributions/1552/
#A4ESymposium

3. We are seeing a reversion to in-person now, but there is more pressure to then tack-on hybrid to make “accessible”. Need to flip this and make “digital first”. #A4ESymposium (2/2)

Breakout Room conversations:
1. One of the big conferences could try using VR as an alternative to travel.
2. Carbon/travel credits as a way to limit flying. Depends on the institute to put into practice. #A4ESymposium (1/2)

Splinter session time !
Join us in Gather Town breakout rooms for discussions on Virtual Reality Meetings (Room 1); the Impact of flying and travel (Room 2); Hybrid meetings (Room 3). #A4ESymposium

Happening now: today's second discussion session on "Future of Astronomy Meetings" will start !
Come join us on Gather Town ! #A4ESymposium

Next in #A4ESymposium , the workshop this afternoon: "AstroEarth Trails - Increasing Climate Change Awareness through outdoor activities in an international collaboration", starting in 10 minutes ! Join us on the Zoom link .

Splinter session time !
Join us in Gather Town breakout rooms for discussions on Teaching Sustainability 8-18 (Room 1) , Science fiction and sustainability (Room 2)
Interdisciplinary approaches (Room 3). #A4ESymposium

Next discussion session for the #A4ESymposium on " Teaching Sustainability in and with Astronomy (A)" has started ! Join us on Gather Town !

Further takeaways from splinter sessions:
1. Sci-An and VR can help with virtual, 3D conferencing .
2. Need for technology to catch up in the current transition period, online meetings have received a positive response. #A4ESymposium

Splinter session time !
Join us in breakout rooms in Gather Town for discussions on Sci-an (Room 1), VR (Room 2), Breaking the attitude barrier (Room 3) and Astronomer's flying habits (Room 4). #A4ESymposium

In 10 minutes today's first discussion session on " Future of Astronomy Meetings" will start !
Come join us on Gather Town ! #A4ESymposium

Some amazing tools are being developed to help people understand and consider their carbon footprints (e.g. https://materre.osug.fr/) - sharing these with the whole global community is tough without translation though, so if you could help with this get in touch! #A4ESymposium

Splinter session time! We are now in smaller groups talking about topics such as outreach and art, science policy, climate & astronomy in South America, newsletter & membership and civil disobedience, before reconvening for the end of our discussion session #A4ESymposium

Splinter session time! We are now 6 different rooms talking about topics such as outreach and art, science policy, climate & astronomy in South America, newsletter & membership and civil disobedience. #A4ESymposium

The climate crisis is not affecting everyone equally. Nations who have contributed least to the crisis are feeling the effects the hardest. Diversity is key when organising our climate action and our astronomical activities in general - we have to be inclusive! #A4ESymposium

Great quote from secretary general of the UN @[email protected] mentioned during our discussions - "Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals. But the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels." #A4ESymposium

We need to take action and normalise taking action against the climate crisis. This will affect every single one of us and should be a top priority for us all. If enough of us start to make changes, others will follow! #A4ESymposium

In our 2nd discussion session on 'Getting active with A4E' - Travis Rector states how important it is to make it clear and easy to those who want to help with climate action where they can go - A4E hopes to be a hub for those in the astro community who want to help #A4ESymposium

In 10 minutes our second discussion session on the topic of 'Getting active with A4E' will kick off. Come join us in the Gather Town! #A4ESymposium

In our discussion session, we are now moving into Gather breakout rooms to talk about: writing letters to politicians; the A4E newsletter; the pros and cons of civil disobedience; art and astronomy and outreach; projects for Africa. #A4ESymposium

Later on today (11-12 UTC) there will be an informal 'coffee break' on Zoom for those involved in UK astronomy in some way, under the heading 'Sustainability in UK astronomy institutes'. Note the special Zoom link! Details in the timetable: https://indico.icc.ub.edu/event/167/contributions/1550/ #A4ESymposium

In 10 minutes our first discussion session on the topic of 'Getting active with A4E' will kick off. Come join us in the Gather Town! #A4ESymposium