During his first presidential term, Donald Trump signed Congress Calling the Federal Observatory after the dead astronomer Vera Rubin. The act of her noted Significant studies on dark matter .
“Vera itself offers a great example of what can happen when more minds are involved in science,” ” On the Observatory site is said about Rubin – Until recently.
By Monday morning, in the section of her online biography called “She advocated women in science”, he left. Later that day he reappeared in a devoid of the background of the Federal Government’s chaotic response to Trump Company against diversity, justice and inclusion.
Although in America there are much more seismic changes than the revision of the three paragraphs on the site, Trail Edit Page gives the opportunity to look into how institutions and agencies move over intolerance of the new administration to everything that is perceived as “woken up” , answering a widely open question:
How far is far away when it comes to recognizing the inequality and oppose it?
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“Vera Rubin, whose career began in the 1960s, faced a lot of barriers simply because she was a woman,” the changed section of the biography began. “She continued to study science when her men told her that they should not,” and balanced her career with the upbringing of children, and the rarity at the time. “Her strength in overcoming these problems on his own is fascinating, but faith worked even more to help other women navigate what was in a career, a very male field.”
The first paragraph disappeared temporarily, then appeared again, untouched on Monday.
This was not the case for the next point: “Science is still a field where men prevail, but Rubin Observatory is working to increase the participation of women and other people who have historically been expelled from science. The Rubin Observatory welcomes anyone who wants Contribution to science, and takes measures to reduce or eliminate barriers that exclude those who have a smaller privilege. “
This paragraph did not disappear As of Thursday afternoon, as well as the claim that Rubin shows what can happen when “more minds” participate in science. The word “more” was replaced by many that changed meaning.
Credit:
Screenshots, highlighted propublica
“I’m sure co -author of the biography of Rubin’s life. Mitan said that the phrase “more minds” means “you want a mind from people from every origin”, an idea that naturally stems from the already remote text on system barriers.
She said that Rubin, who died in 2016, would like the observatory named after her, continued her work, speaking for women and other groups that had long been insufficiently presented in science.
Unclear who ordered specific changes The biography of Rubin. The White House, the Observatory and the Federal Agency, which financed it, the National Scientific Fund and the Energy Department, did not answer the propublica questions.
Observatory page on Diversity, justice and inclusion were also missing Thursday afternoon. As also Archival version of December 19 shows that he described the efforts of the institution “Provide a fair and objective performance” of the hiring process, including training members of the hiring “further Unconscious bias“The Dei program also included educational and public efforts, such as” fulfillment of accessibility standards on the Internet “and plans to establish partnerships with” organizations that serve as audiences traditionally insufficient “in the field of science and technology.
Similar reviews are being developed across the country because the companies have canceled Dei policy, and Trump’s administration has posted employees working on Dei initiatives In a vacation.
If changes in Rubin’s biography are indicating that it remains acceptable for Trump’s vision for the federal government, then certain facts about historical disparities are safe. But any recognition that these prejudice is stored are in cross -cross.
US Air Force even pulled out training videos Black aviators and pilots of civil women Which served in World War II. ( Later the Air Force said It will continue to show videos in training but certain diversity materials will be suspended for consideration.)
One of Rubin’s favorite statements was: “Half of all brain brains,” Mittan said. Her book tells how Rubin disputes sexist language in scientific publications, advocated women to take on management role in professional organizations and refused to act at the event in 1972, which took place at the club, where women were allowed to enter only through The back door.
Jacqueline Huit, who was a graduate student when she met with Rubin at the conferences, said she inspired Rubin’s research and never hid that she had children. “It was very important to see a person who could succeed,” said Hiuite, Professor of Physics Julius A. Strattan at the Massachusette Technology Institute. “It seemed you can also succeed.”
Rubin was awarded the National Medal of Science of the then President Bill Clinton in 1993. The observatory, located in Chile, where the conditions are perfect for observation astronomy, was named in 2019 and includes a powerful telescope; In the near future it will be “explosions According to his site.
Mittan said the observatory is a memorial that continues Rubin’s mission to include not just a lot of people in astronomy, but more of those who did not have the opportunity to make their mark.
“It’s very sad that it is undermined,” she said, “because the work is not done.
