This survey aims to gauge how people from different demographics feel in amateur astronomy spaces in the UK. This survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.
Who we are
We are 3 astronomers (Dr Claudia Antolini @CA_AstroComm, Osnat Katz @astrosnat, Helen Usher @tyseren) who are passionate about amateur astronomy and understanding the reasons and barriers to people getting and staying involved. We are conscious that our collective experiences are not representative of the whole community, and we hope that this survey can provide more insight and spark meaningful conversations about what an inclusive community in amateur astronomy might look like.
We believe astronomy should be accessible and enjoyable for everyone. What limited statistics are available suggest that the demographic balance in astronomy does not reflect that of the UK society. This survey aims to gauge how people from different demographics feel in amateur astronomy communities in the UK. We want to hear from amateur astronomers about your experiences in different communities, how you got involved, and what you think can be made better and how.
We hope that this survey will provide a better understanding of the UK amateur astronomy community and promote inclusion. This is the first study that looks at the way different demographics participate in UK amateur astronomy and we would be very grateful for your participation. Please feel free to share the survey with your friends and colleagues involved in amateur astronomy.
We are planning to present initial findings in a poster at the Europlanet Science Congress in September,
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2020/sessionprogramme, and hope this will stimulate a wider community discussion, and actions!
If you have any further questions, you are very welcome to contact us at
theinclusivetelescope@gmail.com.
Survey distribution
This survey has been distributed through professional and amateur channels and through social media. You are welcome to send this survey to other amateur astronomers so that they can take part as well.
What we will do with your data
We will hold your data securely and not share it with anyone else, unless we have to do so for legal purposes. We do not collect information like your real name or personal address. Some of the data we will ask you for, like your sexual orientation and ethnic background, is called "sensitive personal data" - it won't personally identify you, but we will be taking extra steps to keep your data safe and secure. We are asking to collect it so that we can better understand the amateur astronomy environment, helping future researchers and the wider society.
All mandatory data we store is anonymised, but at the end of the survey, you will be asked if you would like to be contacted for a follow-up survey. Giving us your contact details is optional. If you consent, we might ask you further questions that aim to improve the amateur astronomy environment.
If you agree to this, the information within your submitted Google Form will be made available only to Claudia Antolini, Osnat Katz and Helen Usher. We will keep this data between August 2020 and August 2021.
We won't publish your individual stories unless you give us explicit permission to do so. If you decide you don’t want to take part, you can withdraw at any time by not submitting the survey and your personal data will not be stored.
You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you at any time through emailing theinclusivetelescope[at]gmail[dot]com. If you wish to withdraw all or some of your personal data after having taken the survey, you can also contact us at the same address.
You can stop taking this survey at any time.
If this has affected you in any way, you can find support below from:
- Mind, the mental health charity:
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/- SupportLine for confidential emotional support:
https://www.supportline.org.uk/contact-us/- The Suzy Lamplugh Trust if you have experienced or are experiencing stalking or harassment:
https://www.suzylamplugh.org/refer-someone-to-us