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<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Dear ASA members,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">My name is Katie Jameson, I am currently a Bolton Fellow at CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science (Kensington) and I have just recently taken
over as the new Chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Astronomy (IDEA) Chapter Steering Committee. The overarching objective of the IDEA Chapter is to achieve an environment in all institutions associated with Australian astronomy that is welcoming
and supportive of all academic staff, professional staff and students, regardless of gender and sexual identity, ethnic and cultural background, disability, age, family/carer responsibilities, political affiliation, and religious belief. This will be my third
year serving on the IDEA Chapter Steering Committee and I am excited to take the lead and continue supporting and encouraging progress and improvement in our community. Joining me are the following members on the Steering Committee: Devika Kamath (Deputy Chair;
Macquarie), Yuanming Wang (student member; Sydney Uni), Michael Brown (Monash), Daniel Zucker (Macquarie), Andrew Cole (U Tasmania), Jimi Green (CSIRO), Kate Chow (CSIRO), Ahmed Elagali (CSIRO). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">As the first act of the new IDEA Chapter Steering Committee, we would like to express our support for our black students and colleagues given
the recent tragic and brutal murders of Black Americans Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor in the US, which add to a long list of similarly tragic murders of black people by the police<b>
</b></span><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/eL_VCXLW2mU6mOROF6cXHp?domain=theguardian.com"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">including over 434 Indigenous Australians since the year 1991</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">.
We recognise and empathise with our different experiences and reactions to these events. We stand together with our black students and colleagues. The IDEA Chapter is committed to making a positive difference within our community, and we will continue to work
towards that goal through the actions of our Chapter. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We<span style="color:black"> will be reflecting on all of this as we draw up our plans for the next year and decide on what action we plan to take. Look
to hear from us in the next few weeks with an update.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">One of the main ways those of us that identify as allies can start to dismantle systemic racism is to commit ourselves to anti-racist work.
A good first step is through education. There are many resources and lists of resources available on the internet, a few good places to start are the following: </span></p>
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<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/jFp0CYW8Noc05AqAhG7N32?domain=docs.google.com"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources</span></a></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/nFN9CZY1NqimzQLQFKewdp?domain=vwt.org.au/"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES FROM AUSTRALIA AND BEYOND</span></a></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/gpufC1WLPxcj8qoqTX7wWK?domain=astrobites.org/"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">How Can We Support Black Astronomers?</span></a></p>
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<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Education is only a first step, we must all reflect and determine what action we can take towards dismantling the existing systems rooted
in racism. We would call to your attention </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">the academic strike in support of Black Lives Matter taking place this Wednesday, 10 June (</span><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/1TQ1C2xMQzix78X8I9Tjnw?domain=shutdownstem.com"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">https://www.shutdownstem.com/</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">)
- see </span><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/knNjC3QNPBi8Z2l2SvhCo6?domain=particlesforjustice.org/"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">https://www.particlesforjustice.org/</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#500050">
for a discussion of the use of this strike</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">. </span></p>
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<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Finally, let us always be mindful of the unseen challenges those around us may face and aim to provide support and compassion at all times. </span></p>
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<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Sincerely,</span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Katie Jameson </span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">On behalf of the IDEA Chapter Steering Committee<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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