Attending scientific conferences is crucial for career advancement in STEMM, particularly for early-career scientists [1]. Conferences allow academics to build their scientific reputation and establish new connections and collaborations, which are essential for scientific production. However, data shows that many women decline opportunities to attend conferences due to family responsibilities [2].

The coronavirus pandemic showed that virtual meetings can provide much-need flexibility to caregivers for attending conferences on their own terms, yet this is not a viable solution. Virtual participation does not allow effective networking, and while a growing number of societies began offering hybrid format, in-person participation quickly replaced virtual conferences after the pandemic ended.

In our May 2024 SciMom Chats event, we discussed the obstacles caregivers face when attending conferences and brainstormed potential solutions with leading science policy experts, Yvette R. Seger and Sarina Neote.

We started the event by presenting data collected by our organisation within our community and in a global survey conducted on about 9K respondents from 128 countries. Our survey revealed that nearly 40% of new mothers decline most or all invitations to attend in-person conferences after having children (N= 3955), which has important consequences for their careers. In addition, results from a poll (N=408) showed that academic mothers in our community decline opportunities to participate in conferences because of breastfeeding (28%), lack of affordable childcare (22%) or of support from spouse (14%), but the most prevalent reason for missing out on these career-development opportunities was mom guilt (36%).

These data, along with previous research [2], show that the careers of women in STEMM are disproportionately affected by societal pressures to shoulder caregiving responsibilities alone, compounded by a lack of adequate family and structural support, which forces mothers to decline opportunities to attend scientific conferences. However, science societies have only recently began addressing these challenges and actively working to find effective solutions. Among these are the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). We were delighted to welcome policy experts from these organisations to speak at this event.

Dr Yvette Seger, who leads FASEB’s strategic investments in diversity and inclusion as well as its science policy initiatives, shared the steps FASEB has taken to support caregivers. One key initiative is the CARE Award, which provides $5,000 to help caregivers attend conferences or invest in their professional development. While these awards have been positively received, Seger noted that applicants frequently express a need for more financial support, highlighting systemic challenges that go beyond caregiving alone.

Sarina Neote, the Director of Public Affairs at ASBMB, outlined several initiatives that ASBMB has introduced to support caregivers. In addition to offering $1,000 care grants, ASBMB provides essential facilities like lactation rooms at conferences to ensure inclusivity at all stages of motherhood. The organisation also runs mentorship programs and offers a resource guide designed to help caregivers, particularly women, navigate family responsibilities alongside early-career challenges. ASBMB actively collects feedback from its members to continually enhance its support initiatives.

Both experts stressed the importance of shifting conference culture, such as moving away from evening events with alcohol and offering more family-friendly schedules. They also acknowledged the ongoing challenge of balancing costs, liability, and accessibility, which many scientific societies face when organising childcare or family-friendly services.

 

The discussion then explored the broader, systemic challenges of supporting caregivers in STEMM, with both speakers advocating for policies that provide longer-term support. Neote highlighted the push for federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health in the USA, to expand childcare supplements and career re-entry programs, while Seger emphasised the need for flexible conference planning and employer policies.

Audience members shared their lived experiences, with one attendee highlighting the difficulties of finding reliable childcare at conferences and the mental burden of planning caregiving arrangements. Another participant talked about encountering strict policies that prohibited children at conferences, making participation virtually impossible for parents.

The session concluded with both experts emphasising the need for continued advocacy to create long-term, systemic changes in support of caregivers in science, while individual societies can focus on offering immediate, practical solutions. The event reinforced the importance of collaborative efforts between scientific societies, funding agencies, and individual organisers to make conferences more accessible for parents and caregivers.

 
 
 
 
 
catarina moreno