THE PATH TO A MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE OF MEETINGS IN ASTRONOMY

The Future of Meetings (TFOM) began as a symposium dedicated to exploring the future of interaction in 2020, framed around key themes of accessibility, inclusivity, sustainability and technology, and with its roots in the astronomy community. Throughout our work in TFOM, it has been clear that the standard meeting practices taken for granted as a given in astronomy (and science) have long been inaccessible to many, creating a “normal” that is both exclusive and unsustainable. Conversely, the rapid advances in effective online means of communicating and collaborating open up a wealth of new possibilities for redefining what is required to succeed in astronomy, from the ground up. In this proceeding, we outline the lessons learned from and core recommendations of TFOM, specifically in the context of accessibility and inclusivity in astronomy. In the wake of pandemic disruption, we have a unique chance to rewrite the fabric of collaboration within our field. By doing so, we can establish new attraction and retention practices, maximising inclusivity while minimising environmental harm at a critical turning point for our long term survival as a species.