Office of Diversity and Inclusion

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) ensures that the NRAO’s ideals of equitable access for all are put into practice. ODI provides support so that underrepresented students, professionals, and staff in astronomy can have equitable access to educational and professional experiences.  ODI’s equity work reaches grade school students, college and graduate students, career professionals, and institutions through their Broader Impact programs, and through NRAO workplace training and policies.

Employee Support

We offer online courses, collaborate on developing policy, and provide guidance on how to have an equitable workplace.

Broader Impact Programs

ODI creates pipelines for under-represented students to have access to the educational, financial, and network resources in order to be able participate in and contribute to the Radio Astronomy field. ODI takes a multi-faceted approach– working with institutions and individuals, to have deep, and sweeping impacts. Visit each linked page for further information about each page, and ways to get involved.

• RADIAL Through partnerships with universities and other institutions, ODI works towards structural equity, facilitating improved k-12 educational materials, data access, and broadening participation in STEM majors.
• NAC Exceptional undergraduate students, who may have been overlooked through traditional pipelines, participate in research opportunities with the financial, mentoring, and peer support.
• NINE Graduate students, faculty, or staff affiliated with a university or a research facility, receive training to create a hub that reaches younger learners to educate them, and get them enthused about Radio Astronomy and other STEM areas.
• Chile Exceptional undergraduate students participate in internships at the Joint ALMA Observatory in Chile.

NRAO Diversity & Inclusion Statement

At NRAO, we believe that a diverse staff is critical for our mission to enable world-class science with cutting edge radio facilities for the scientific community, to train the next generation of scientists and engineers, and to foster a scientifically literate society.   We are committed to a diverse and inclusive work place culture that appreciates all individuals across all identities, including race, gender, gender identity/expression, age, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, or national origin and culture.

This commitment to diversity and inclusion extends to all NRAO interactions with the broader community.

NRAO’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion has its own dedicated staff, and partners with numerous other departments and agencies to create more opportunities for current and future astronomers, scientists, and staff. ODI is always looking for more like-minded partners and collaborators. Please contact the ODI office (odi@nrao.edu)if you are interested in partnering with ODI.

ODI works with a wide population of staff and institutions as they coordinate Broader Impact programs and provide support for the NRAO Employee Diversity Group.