Astronomers Launch Planetary Science Workforce Survey
The American Astronomical Society is conducting a comprehensive demographic study of the field’s research workforce.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Space
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The American Astronomical Society Division of Planetary Science has launched its 2026 workforce survey to gather data on the backgrounds and employment experiences of scientists. The survey aims to better understand the composition of the field by tracking educational paths and demographics.
Why it matters
Collecting this data helps contextualize the field of planetary science by identifying exactly who is performing research, how they were trained, and what diverse perspectives they bring to mission teams.
The survey is conducted every 5 years to track the evolution of the planetary science workforce. It evaluates trends established in the 2020 study, which highlighted underrepresentation among women, non-white scientists, LGBTQ+ members, and disabled researchers.
The players
American Astronomical Society Division of Planetary Science
This professional organization represents scientists who study planets and their moons, supporting research and collaboration across the planetary community.
Julie Rathbun
She is the lead investigator overseeing the 2026 planetary science workforce survey and its data collection process.
The details
Led by Julie Rathbun, the survey captures detailed information regarding the educational background and employment history of researchers in the discipline. The initiative seeks to build upon findings from 2020 that identified gaps in representation for principal and co-investigators on major mission teams.
Timeline
The previous planetary science workforce survey was conducted in 2020.
The 2026 survey launched on October 27, 2026, during the annual meeting.
The Big Picture
This project continues the longitudinal monitoring effort established by the 2020 planetary science workforce survey. The current data collection updates the representation benchmarks previously set in 2020 to reveal how the academic and research landscape has evolved over the last half-decade.
The survey results will help institutions understand how to improve recruitment and retention for future research teams. This could lead to more inclusive hiring practices and updated training programs for the next generation of planetary scientists.
The takeaway
This recurring survey provides a vital metric for tracking diversity and professional development across the planetary sciences. Researchers and stakeholders should pay attention to these findings to see if the demographic shifts match institutional goals for equity in mission participation.
Further reading
For more information on current developments in the field, explore the Space section.
Live Poll
Do you believe scientific organizations are effectively addressing demographic imbalances in their research teams?
