Research careers to become more family friendly

A 10-year plan to provide greater work-related flexibility to women and men in scientific research careers was jointly announced by the White House and the National Science Foundation on September 26.

Under the new strategy, dubbed the “NSF Career-Life Balance Initiative,” NSF will expand its practices which allow researchers to delay or defer their grants for up to a year to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, or to fulfil other family obligations. The goal is “maximising current policy to facilitate scientists’ reentry into their professions with minimal loss of momentum,” the White House explained.