Broadening participation

federica b. bianco

she/her

University of Delaware

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Biden School of Public Policy and Administration

Data  Science Institute

Speaking as myself, my views, my opinions

federica b. bianco

she/her

what's in a name?

what's in a name?

The first ground-based national US observatory named after a woman, Dr. Vera C. Rubin 

what's in a name?

The first ground-based national US observatory named after a woman, Dr. Vera C. Rubin 

“The most important feature of any telescope is the imagination with which it is used.”

Rubin

Observatory

LSST

DA

LSST

SCs

Rubin EPO

Rubin

Observatory

LSST

DA

LSST

SCs

Rubin EPO

LSST

DA

LSST

SCs

Rubin EPO

We have all the ingredients to engage people in astrophysics, in science, in critical thinking

Astronomy is a gateway to sciene

Open Data Policies to enable access

Scientific advances are never just technical — they are sociotechnical

Tied to social arrangements, organization, and ethics

The notion of moral economy puts forward two concerns for consideration: an economy in which resources are developed and exchanged, and the moral reasoning by which people form expectations and make decisions about proper distribution of those resources.

All Eyes on Rubin

In an era of data abundance, a new moral economy is emerging

Tanweer et al. 2026 (hopefully)

Nature Perspectives - in editorial review

Anissa Tanweer

Anissa Tanweer is a Senior Social Scientist at the eScience Institute, an Affiliate Faculty member in the Department of Communication

The astronomy community is optimistic that Rubin’s abundant data and broad data access policies have the potential to further the “democratization”16 of the field, meaning that “first-rate discoveries” no longer depend upon “privileged access” but can be made by anyone with scientific “talent” across a wide range of research areas, realizing untapped human potential and releasing a flood of science

Tanweer+2026

Democratized data access

Near-OPEN DATA POLICY

Who has access:

Alerts: everyone worldwide! Why?

because it takes a village

All other data and catalogs:

every scientist in the United States

and Chile (the country in which the

telescope is located), along with more

than two thousand international

Democratized data access

Near-OPEN DATA POLICY

Who has access:

Alerts: everyone worldwide! Why?

because it takes a village

All other data and catalogs:

every scientist in the United States

and Chile (the country in which the

telescope is located), along with more

than two thousand international

RSP: low barrier for use

         equal access to computational resources (?) 

CST: accessible tutorials

Who has access:

Alerts: everyone worldwide! Why?

because it takes a village

All other data and catalogs:

every scientist in the United States

and Chile (the country in which the

telescope is located), along with more

than two thousand international

RSP: low barrier for use

         equal access to computational resources (?) 

CST: accessible tutorials

Engagement of a large international community

Democratized data access

Near-OPEN DATA POLICY

is it working?

First papers from DP1 & DP2

Democratized data access does not automatically mean equitable access

Some of the most important decisions for scientific communities concern not simply access to large datasets, but also the distribution of decision-making power, resources, labor, and expertise necessary to shape and process such datasets.12 Taking advantage of data abundance requires not just investment in machines, but investment in the forms of social organization and human infrastructure31 that will ensure the broadest possible benefits are reaped.

Tanweer+2026

Democratized decision making

https://www.lsst.org/content/charge-survey-cadence-optimization-committee-scoc

Rubin has involved the community to an unprecedented level in survey design this is a uniquely "democratic" process!

Survey Cadence Optimization Committee

However, LSST’s ability to serve many scientific use cases is not just a technical accomplishment, it is also an organizational one that requires new configurations for negotiation, collaboration, and coalition-building across numerous constituencies with different objectives and needs.

Tanweer+2026

However, LSST’s ability to serve many scientific use cases is not just a technical accomplishment, it is also an organizational one that requires new configurations for negotiation, collaboration, and coalition-building across numerous constituencies with different objectives and needs.

Tanweer+2026

We are not maximizing happiness.... we are minimizing unhappiness

Željko Ivezić

However, LSST’s ability to serve many scientific use cases is not just a technical accomplishment, it is also an organizational one that requires new configurations for negotiation, collaboration, and coalition-building across numerous constituencies with different objectives and needs.

Tanweer+2026

We are not maximizing happiness.... we are minimizing unhappiness

Željko Ivezić

or, the risk to fall in the "Tyranny of the majority"

In the past, Rubin Observatory has lead a number of equity minded activities

Rubin Observatory receives support from government agencies. Support for these activities is not possible right now

(this does not mean we are not equity minded! they cannot controls our minds)

But the other elements of the Rubin ecosystem are not tied to these constraints

NOIRLab The Mirror, Volume 5, p.40

August 2023

LSST

DA

LSST

SCs

Rubin EPO

LSST DA programs have consistently and persistently sought out to broaden communities by establishing equity

Large + multi-year programs

Small ad-hoc programs

Newest Opportunity

LSST

DA

LSST

SCs

Rubin EPO

A community of practice funded on principles of Equity, Inclusivity, Cooperation

The SCs aspire to be an inclusive and nurturing environment for scientists interested in pursuing LSST-based science. 

Each SC works independently, but most have community building and equity efforts in common

The SCs aspire to be an inclusive and nurturing environment for scientists interested in pursuing LSST-based science. 

Each SC works independently, but most have community building and equity efforts in common

• Low-barrier to joining the SC. Many dont require data rights
• Support for multiple time zones, asynchronous support e.g. on slack; video banks (e.g. AGN, TVS youtube channels). So someone who cannot attend at 3 a.m. should still be able to influence a project etc.
• We actively encourage early-career researchers to give our telecon talks (I think 90%+ of talks have been given by ECRs in the last 3 years).
• Encourage diverse leadership along historically underrepresented axes

SOME EQUITY MINDED SC PROGRAMS

TVS Mentor Training

United we are stronger!

TVS + SMWLV + SSSC $1M from Heising Simons Foundation for "Leveling the Playing Field" (PI Street)

        An Astronomical

        Inclusion Revolution

       Dara Norman, Tim Sacco and Dorian Russell

SOME EQUITY MINDED SC PROGRAMS

So how are we doing...

[...] some evidence suggests that when team size increases in a field, junior scientists become less likely to find funding, secure tenure, or stay in the academy. 

Leadership of the Rubin Science Collaborations are aware of these risks and have taken steps to mitigate them. Some of these measures include putting junior scientists into high-visibility positions, creating affinity groups focused on the interests of early career researchers, directing funds to support early career involvement in workshops and conferences, and providing mentorship training.

Yet the efficacy of these efforts remains to be seen.

Tanweer+2026

[...] some evidence suggests that when team size increases in a field, junior scientists become less likely to find funding, secure tenure, or stay in the academy. 

Leadership of the Rubin Science Collaborations are aware of these risks and have taken steps to mitigate them. Some of these measures include putting junior scientists into high-visibility positions, creating affinity groups focused on the interests of early career researchers, directing funds to support early career involvement in workshops and conferences, and providing mentorship training.

Yet the efficacy of these efforts remains to be seen.

In other words, the outcomes of organizing for breadth—of developing the survey cadence with input from many scientists across many different areas of astronomy and astrophysics—are not foretold. 

Tanweer+2026

As Rubin LSST unfolds over the next decade watch out for

Who is producing scientific findings?

Are scientists from varied institutions, geographies, and career stages able to leverage this data?

Why?

How are policies, practices, and infrastructures implicated in either spreading or concentrating opportunity?

What can other fields learn?

Many scientific fields are undergoing similar transformations

Lessons from Rubin's organizational experiments apply broadly

is a word I am borrowing from Margaret Atwood to describe the fact that the future is us. 

However loathsome or loving we are, so will we be. 

Whereas utopias are the stuff of dream dystopias are the stuff of nightmares, ustopias are what we create together when we are wide awake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO3nY_u6hos

US-TOPIA