[ASA] Survey on IAU Publication Policies

[Sarah Brough]

Dear All,

Please see below information on an IAU survey to determine whether formal conference proceedings are still valuable. You do not need to be an IAU member to participate and they are particularly keen to hear from PhD students and ECRs. The survey is open until October 16th.

Cheers,
Sarah
----------------------
Professor Sarah Brough
Head of School | School of Physics
Chair | National Committee for Astronomy
Australian Observer | European Southern Observatory Council
AD: #G06, Old Main Building (K15) | UNSW Sydney | NSW 2052 | Australia
PH: +61 2 9065 2579

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________________________________
From: IAU Assistant General Secretary Laura Ferrarese <headquarters at iau.org<mailto:headquarters at iau.org>>
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 10:07 PM
To: ISC at AAS <ISC at science.org.au<mailto:ISC at science.org.au>>
Subject: Request to help advertise survey on IAU Publication Policies


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The Future of IAU Conference Proceedings
IAU Community Survey
 
 


Dear colleagues,

The proliferation of rapid-sharing platforms and the comprehensive indexing of the NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) have fundamentally changed how we share astronomical research. Consequently, a long-standing debate has resurfaced: Are formal conference proceedings still a valuable use of our community’s time and resources?

To answer this, the International Astronomical Union is convening a Task Force on the Utility of IAU Symposia/Focus Meeting Proceedings<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/0isGC3QNPBixx8jp7u2iZZiQJcpC?domain=np5meuhbb.cc.rs6.net>. Our goal is to determine if IAU Proceedings<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/rMxSC4QOPEi66jZBYfWsGGi4zQXh?domain=np5meuhbb.cc.rs6.net> still provide unique scientific and career value and, based on the findings, suggest possible revisions or alternatives.

For this, we need your input. Whether you are a senior researcher who has published dozens of papers or a graduate student wondering if that 4-page proceeding is worth the effort, your perspective is vital.

Please take the Community Survey<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/95sFC5QPXJiRRnyZgtxtqqiknsTS?domain=np5meuhbb.cc.rs6.net>
[https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/7VqnC6XQ4LfMM3RrVcLu77i5Ww7i?domain=iau.secure-platform.com<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/bfYVC71R2NTyyPrAEh0C33iosVJJ?domain=np5meuhbb.cc.rs6.net>]

The survey will take between 10 and 20 minutes to complete, and is open to the broader astronomical community. Respondents do not need to be IAU Members to participate.

Your feedback will directly inform the Task Force recommendations to the IAU Executive Committee, and will help shape future policies on whether traditional proceedings will remain a requirement for IAU Symposia and Focus Meetings, or whether alternatives (e.g., Zenodo collections, video archives) should be considered.

The survey will remain open until October 16. All responses are anonymous.

Thank you for helping us shape how the IAU shares the wonders of the universe.

Best regards,
Laura Ferrarese<mailto:assistant-gs at iau.org>
IAU Assistant General Secretary
On behalf of the Task Force on IAU Astronomy Proceedings

International Astronomical Union
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