Submitted by Sheila Smith / University of Michigan- Dearborn on Mon, 11/28/2016 - 15:13

There's an effort underway to make the Gordon Research Confernces more inclusive by supporting researchers with small children and family responsibilities.  Many of us have enjoyed the Gordon Research Conferences, but the immersion type events can be difficult on families. 

Specifically, the letter asks the leadership of the GRCs to consider three changes:

  1. Provide reasonably priced on-site accommodations for families and caretakers
  2. Significantly reduce the conference registration fee for those participants who must stay off-site in order to accommodate children and caretakers.
  3. Make on-site childcare services available during conference sessions (talks and poster session) and at other times (during breaks to enable participants to meet with other conference attendees).

If this is an initiative that you can get behind, please consider clicking the link below, and adding your name.  

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScaJondNisrGEhh0QWY_dEogdMQuIqztajnfGEU9_HnOfdgUw/viewform

The entire text of the letter can be found at the link as well.

Please consider forwarding this link to friends and colleagues who would be interesting in signing. We will compile the signatures on December 15, 2016 and send the letter via both email and the U.S. Postal Service.