IDEA is an independent, self-organized, student-led group and a safe space open to all graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (A&A) and the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics (KICP). We host regular meetings once a quarter.
IDEA was responsible for creating the petition to support Black Astronomers and Physicists at the University of Chicago, which led to the formation of community-wide Working Groups.
IDEA has three broad goals:
- Providing a safe space for members of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics community to talk about issues they are facing or are otherwise interested in discussing.
- Educating each other on topics related to equity and inclusion in astronomy, via readings, invited talks, and workshops.
- Advocacy and lobbying through low-barrier, high-impact projects.