Academic conferences are essential platforms for knowledge exchange, networking, and professional development. However, they often fail to accommodate attendees with families due to lack of childcare facilities or programming suitable for children and non-attending adults. This oversight not only excludes a significant number of potential participants but also perpetuates an unwelcoming culture towards families.

We urge academic organizations and sponsoring institutions to guarantee that conferences become more family-friendly by offering childcare that covers all events, providing programming for children and non-attending adults, as well as welcoming babies and children into conference spaces.

We also encourage funding organizations, including universities, to cover childcare, additional travel for children and their caregivers, and lactation support for all faculty and students who are attending conferences. 

The goal is not just about crafting better policies or securing funding; it's about creating a culture where attendees feel their families are welcome too. By doing so we can ensure inclusivity in these crucial spaces of intellectual discourse while also acknowledging the diverse needs of its participants.

Please sign this petition if you believe in making academic conferences more inclusive by ensuring they are family-friendly.