Anti-Black racism workshop during the Vera C. Rubin Observatory virtual 2021 Project and Community Workshop

Abstract

Systemic racism is a ubiquitous theme in societies worldwide and plays a central role in shaping our economic, social, and academic institutions. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is a major US ground-based facility based in Chile with international participation. The Observatory is an example of excellence and will deliver the largest survey of the sky ever attempted. Rubin's full scientific and social potential can not be attained without addressing systemic racism and associated barriers to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). During Rubin's 2021 virtual Project and Community Workshop (PCW), the annual Rubin community-based meeting, an anti-Black racism workshop took place, facilitated by 'The BIPOC Project' organization. About 60 members from different parts of the Rubin ecosystem participated. We describe the motivation, organization, challenges, outcomes, and near- and long-term goals of this workshop.Comment: Contribution to appear in 'An Astronomical Inclusion Revolution: Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Professional Astronomy and Astrophysics', to be published by IOP ebook