Press
Grass-roots pressure grows to boost support for breastfeeding scientists
Nature, by Amanda Heidt
This piece highlights the inadequate support mothers in STEM face regarding breastfeeding. Advocacy efforts are driving initiatives for paid parental leave, accessible lactation spaces, and flexible funding to ease burdens on early-career scientists. CEO and Founder Isabel Torres joins the conversation, sharing Mothers in Science survey research showing that “nearly one-third of mothers who responded [to the survey] extended their maternity leave to breastfeed.”
A third of new mothers quit science
NRC, by Mariska Kret
In this firsthand account, Mariska Kret discusses challenges balancing academia and motherhood. Insights from Mothers in Science underscore prevalent struggles like burnout. Kret advocates for supportive policies to ensure work-life balance and inclusivity, fostering an environment where mothers can thrive professionally.
This article is available in Dutch via NRC, and in English via Universiteit Leiden’s leidenpsychologyblog.
Offer pregnant applicants more flexibility, research funders told
Times Higher Education, by Emily Dixon
In this article, our co-founder and CEO, Isabel Torres, joins other researchers to advocate for increased flexibility in grant application processes for pregnant applicants, stressing the career implications. She underscores how rigid procedures can hinder career progression and suggests the implementation of policies such as rolling grant deadlines to support pregnant applicants and new parents.
Isabel Torres: Mère au foyer, ce n’est pas mon style
The Meta News, by Noémie Berroir
This profile piece discusses the personal journey of our co-founder/CEO, Isabel Torres, as a mother in science and entrepreneur. Isabel shared her own experience juggling 4 children and a non-linear career and why she decided to create the non-profit Mothers in Science (in French).
Donne nella scienza, 3 su 10 lasciano dopo la maternità
Il Sole 24 Ore, by Greta Ubbiali
There is a global need for action to boost the careers of working mothers in STEMM and break down the stereotypes that gravitate around motherhood and work. This news article speaks about the global movement led by Mothers in Science to demand change for mothers in STEMM and discusses the policy guidelines for research funding agencies outlined in our action plan for funding agencies (in Italian).
Breaking down bias and barriers holding back mums from progressing in science
Cosmos Magazine, by Petra Stock
Following the publication of our action plan for funding agencies, Mothers in Science (MiS) is starting to meet with research funders worldwide to push for change. This piece highlights our meeting with Australia’s leading expert body in health and medical research (NHMRC) to discuss incorporating our recommendations into their policies and the positive changes this agency is already implementing to promote equity in the funding system.
A call to create funding equity for researcher-mums
Nature, by Amanda Heidt
This piece speaks about the global movement for mothers in STEMM led by Mothers in Science and discusses the action plan for funding agencies that we created in partnership with 17 other organisations outlining policies for reforming the funding system and eliminating gender inequities.
Balancing Act: You’re Not Alone on Your Tightrope
ASBMB Today, by Danielle Guarracino
This article discusses the challenges of combining motherhood and a science career and mentions the work of Mothers in Science and SciMoms and how these communities are important for creating a sense of togetherness for parents who are juggling with childcare and a scientific career.
The Parenting Penalties Faced By Scientist Mothers
Nature, by Kendall Powell
Starting a family at a key career stage comes at a cost to birthing parents —and many end up leaving the profession as a result. This piece speaks about the systemic barriers faced by mothers scientists, mentioning results from the global survey conducted by Mothers in Science and partners, and about some initiatives led by our organisation and others to support mothers in STEMM.
Push to Address Long-Standing Challenges for Parents in STEMM
The Scientist, by Amanda Heidt
This feature article highlights the conference organised by Mothers in Science in May 2021 and the preliminary results of our global survey conducted by our organisation.
Science vs. Motherhood: An Unnecessary Choice
Dimensions Sciences, by Amanda Machado
In this article, Dimensions Sciences interviewed Isabel Torres, our co-founder/CEO, among other advocates for mothers in STEMM, to discuss the structural challenges faced by women with family responsibilities in the STEMM sector.
Working From Home During the Pandemic: 3 Remarkable Academic Mothers Share Their Stories
Editage Insights, by Sneha Kulkarni
This article features the bittersweet experience of three remarkable academic mothers (including Mei Lin Neo, a member of Mothers in Science, and Isabel Torres, our co-founder/CEO) and how they managed to keep up with their work while doing childcare 24/7 during the pandemic.
Isabel Torres: “It is time to break the silence about maternity in science and fix the system”
El-lipse, by Maruxa Martínez-Campos
This article highlights the main events of a round table on maternity in science, chaired by Isabel Torres, our co-founder/CEO and discusses gender inequities in academia, the leaky pipeline for women in higher education, how parenthood affects career advancement, and the need to raise awareness if these issues.
