The present and future of diversity in astronomy

Astronomy is a far-reaching field, with the marvels of space inspiring people of all ages all across the world. While an interest in astronomy is present across all groups of people, this is not represented on a professional level, with representation from minority groups dwindling the further up the career path you go. Improving diversity within fields and institutions has been shown to have positive effects (Nielsen et al. 2018, Nature Hum Behav 2, 726-734) and as such when looking to the future of astronomy it is in the field's benefit to discuss what we can do. In this talk, on behalf of the organisation IDEEA (Inclusion, Diversity and Equity in European Astronomy), I will discuss the current state of diversity in our field and how changes to hiring practices and other actions can assist with improving diversity in astronomy in the future.