(BIVN) – March 8 is International Women’s Day, and the Maunakea Observatories already celebrated in Hawai‘i, where there are more women astronomers than anywhere else in the world.

Women scientists, engineers and administrators of the international telescopes gathered at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center on March 2, in recognition of their progress and success in what was a traditionally male-dominated field.

“The future of Maunakea should be held in the hands of the young people of these islands, and I want at least half of those future leaders driving the cultural, scientific, spiritual and environmental preservation of this special place to be women,” said Jessica Dempsey, deputy director of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope of the East Asian Observatory. “As we press for progress in gender equity and equal treatment of women in the workplace, it is time to enhance and grow the community of support for our female workers.”

Video of the event was recorded by the Maunakea Observatories and shared with media.