Black Space Week: Celebrating Identity, Innovation, and Representation in the Space Sciences

Black Space Week (BSW) is a dedicated celebration of the contributions by Black professionals and students in space-related fields, including astronomy, aeronautics, climate studies, and beyond. This annual event highlights the diverse work being done in the community, emphasizing the importance of space exploration and scientific advancement. Created and organized by Black In Astro, the week features a variety of engaging activities, panel discussions, and showcasing student research and art competitions. Through these gatherings, scientists, astronauts, and educators alike have been a platform for those to share their mutual experiences, expertise, and motivation. BSW has fostered connections across multiple demographics that extends beyond academia or research. This year, our focus is on the impact of humanities and how it has shaped the current state of space sciences and exploration. Specifically, we’ll explore how humanities plays a huge role in the space sciences and overlaps with journalism, planetarium, environmental justice, and art work. Scientists are extremely multifaceted and how we envision the universe through scientific research and various cultural aspects. We aim to illustrate how diversity drives innovation, strengthens inclusivity, and captures participation from underrepresented groups in the space sciences and planetary mission development.