Chemistry conferences look to become more family-friendly

By providing free day care and dedicated family spaces, chemistry conferences like the American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting in Orlando, US, are doing their bit to remove the stigma around scientists bringing their children to scientific meetings. ‘It’s encouraging to see more people around with children so you don’t feel like you’re the only one and everyone is looking at you,’ says Emily Draper, a chemist from the University of Glasgow, UK, who attended the ACS meeting with her 11-week-old daughter.