
Astronomers are voicing their concerns and disappointment following a recent change made to the biography of the celebrated scientist Vera Rubin on the website of the federally-funded Rubin Observatory. The revisions downplay her contributions to advancing women in science and eliminate references to the observatory’s initiatives aimed at dismantling barriers faced by women and other groups historically marginalized in the field.
“No executive order or political directive will derail our commitment to diversifying the scientific workforce to better reflect our society,” stated astronomer John Barentine to Space.com. “In fact, this situation strengthens our resolve to pursue this vital work, as it is ethically the right thing to do.”
These alterations were initially highlighted by ProPublica on January 30, coinciding with federal agencies’ efforts to update websites in response to an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. This order halts funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) projects and calls for the elimination of such mentions from public-facing platforms.
On January 27, the section of Rubin’s biography titled “She advocated for women in science” was entirely removed, then later republished in a less impactful version the same day, according to ProPublica. As of February 11, the updated biography still lacks a paragraph that previously stated, “Science is still dominated by men, but Rubin Observatory actively works to elevate the roles of women and other individuals historically excluded from science. The observatory embraces all who wish to contribute and strives to eliminate obstacles that hinder those less privileged.”
Additionally, a key sentence in the revised final paragraph changed “more minds” to “many minds,” shifting the focus from the importance of diverse perspectives to merely pointing out a higher number of people.
“This narrative encapsulates Vera’s life experiences,” noted Yvette Cendes, a radio astronomer at the University of Oregon, in a discussion with Space.com. “She was a formidable advocate for women in science, having faced significant discrimination herself, so diminishing her story is deeply troubling.”
Numerous other sections on the observatory’s site, including those regarding job opportunities and staff biographies, have also been altered to erase references to DEI initiatives. Space.com reached out for comments from the Observatory, the National Science Foundation, and the White House, but there was no response as of February 3.
Rubin is celebrated globally for revolutionizing our understanding of the universe by demonstrating that galaxies are primarily made up of dark matter. Her pivotal studies supplied essential evidence of dark matter’s existence through her observations of stars in the Andromeda galaxy, revealing that they moved at a consistent rate, regardless of their position—an indicator of “missing” mass that she attributed to dark matter. This groundbreaking work shifted the scientific consensus, recognizing dark matter as a key component of the universe and unlocking new avenues in the fields of astronomy and physics.
In addition to her scientific milestones, Rubin notably broke barriers for women in the field. In 1964, she fought for the right to observe at the prestigious Palomar Observatory in California, becoming the first woman officially permitted to use its telescopes. Colleagues remember that upon discovering the only restroom was labeled “MEN,” she amusingly fashioned a small skirt out of paper to drape over the male figure on the door, announcing, “Now you have a ladies’ room,” before getting to work—a testament to her bold and vivacious spirit, as highlighted in a 2021 statement from former Carnegie Science President Eric Isaacs.
Throughout her career, Rubin consistently advocated for women’s inclusion in science. Former colleague Neta Bahcall from Princeton University shared how Rubin would often notice a lack of female speakers at conferences and would reach out to organizers to address the imbalance.
“Consider what might have happened if she hadn’t been so tenacious,” Isaacs commented in the Carnegie Science statement. “How many more Vera Rubins might we have lost to such challenges?”
Against the backdrop of these recent setbacks, the astronomy community appears determined not to regress in the fight for diversity and inclusion in science. “Astronomy will ensure Vera’s legacy as a pioneer is not forgotten,” added Barentine. Several organizations are actively working to preserve and archive the content that has been removed as well as any information that may be at risk of being erased from federal websites.
“The notion that they can simply obliterate these resources is fundamentally flawed—scientists, especially astronomers, will not respond passively to these threats,” he asserted. “However, the journey ahead will be challenging and fraught with obstacles.”
In related actions, some NASA DEI initiatives faced discontinuation shortly after Trump took office. A notable program, Here to Observe (H2O), designed to connect underrepresented undergraduate students with scientists involved in NASA missions was recently shut down. Reports revealed that NASA employees were instructed to “drop everything” and “eliminate references” to terms such as “Indigenous People,” “Equity,” “Accessibility,” “Environmental Justice,” as well as anything specifically related to women (e.g., women in leadership). NASA has since removed “inclusion” from its list of core values.
The sweeping changes spurred by this directive have erased numerous articles highlighting NASA astronomers from underrepresented backgrounds that were previously published, like this one. Many affected pages now display past SpaceX launch schedules in place of the original narratives. The original titles remain intact. Furthermore, staff members have been directed to remove their pronouns from workplace communications and instead use a standardized signature block adopted by the agency, as reported by NPR .
Astrobiologist Michaela Musilova, who previously directed the HI-SEAS space research station in Hawaii, shared that her commitment to ensuring greater representation of women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ scientists in her simulated lunar and Martian missions attracted a more diverse pool of applicants.
“Representation is crucial—many candidates expressed that they were inspired to apply because they saw someone like them succeed in this field,” she remarked. During these missions, she noted that “the more varied the team, the better the mission’s outcome—participants collaborated more effectively, solved problems more efficiently, and were more productive in their research efforts.”
The ramifications of these ongoing changes could lead to a long-term impact, potentially sidelining several promising projects and diminishing research contributions, she cautioned.
On May 17, 1996, nearly 50 years after her graduation in 1948, Rubin addressed the graduating class at the University of California, Berkeley, urging them by saying, “I hope you all fight injustice and discrimination in all its forms. I hope that you will embrace diversity among your friends, colleagues, and, unlike some of your regents, among the student body.” She concluded with a heartfelt wish: “When you’re in positions of authority, I hope you’ll do better than we have.”
