- I am currently enrolled as a PHD student. I used to work and only started to go back to university when I was pregnant with my daughter.  Initially, I thought studying would go well together with having a child - better than a full time job at least. I was not right, mothers are still exotic birds in the academic world.

- One of the problems with having children is the perception of the colleagues and the amount of "general duties": reducing the work time to say 75% does not result in 25% less inquiries etc. from the colleagues. The general workload by seminars, group meetings etc. is still the same as for a fulltime job (unless one wants to hide in her office, avoiding any contact), so in the end there is much less time for your own projects.

- I think it is very important to include more mothers in scientifc life

- From my own experience: (I have two small children): any way of networking and having "role models" encouraged me tremendously to pursue both, family and career. (this is why I register here). It is/was important to me, that these supportive people are male and female. In fact, I needed support from both sides! While childcare and kindergarden for female students is often given, I often miss the support for those women who are beyond their studies.

- home office, core hours, day care........

- Noch habe ich keine Kinder, möchte aber trotz Universitätslaufbahn nicht auf Familie verzichten. Allerdings muss man leider mit drastischen Einschnitten in der Karriere rechnen, zumal die wissenschaftliche Laufbahn immer häufiger mit Altersbeschränkungen einhergeht. Und mit Kind hinkt man nun einmal einige Jahre hinterher. Deshalb freue ich mich, dass ein derartiges Netzwerk ins Leben gerufen worden ist.

- Very good initiative - am glad to be part of it!

- Ich habe in Koeln studiert und dort durch einen Aushang von EMIS erfahren. Jetzt mache ich mein PhD-Studium in Oxford. Ich wuerde gerne Informationen ueber EMIS verbreiten, der Boden duerfte hier dafuer sehr fruchtbar sein!

- I am a female graduate student in mathematical physics. I do not have a family yet, but am supportive and curious about the aims of your organization.

- Thank you for adding me to your mail list. I am very interested in the goals of your organization!

- Thank you very much for providing a platform for scientist mothers and their problems.

- Remember you can never keep a good woman down!

- Ich begrüße dieses Initiative. Bin selber Mutter von 3 Kindern, das 4. ist unterwegs. Meine Kinder haben mich bislang nicht bei der wissenschaftlichen Arbeit "behindert", aber ich musste dafür nach Frankreich auswandern. Für Kinderbetreuung ist hier gesorgt. Aber ich habe auf dem wissenschaftlichen Arbeitsmarkt keine Chance, denn der funktioniert klientelistisch (lokale Kandidaten). Problem ist auch: die angebotenen Stellen sind kurzfristig, unterbezahlt, eigentlich gedacht für Leute ohne Anhang, die eben mal für 9 Monate nach Berlin gehen, dann wieder für ein Jahr nach Duisburg. Das geht mit Familie nicht.

- Hello,I just finished my university and did my final degree in Politics at the university in Bonn. I am interested in your network from personal reasons, although i dont have children yet. I would be happy to take a leaf out of your books- and feeling that it is possible to have and enjoy both. Carereer and children

- Successfull applications for grants (for example DFG, Helmhotz-Gesellschaft)are usually dependent on young age and lots of publications. This limits the access to public money to the "classic" researcher, namely one who has a fulltime job and somebody else to take care of all other responsibilities in life. My suggestion: Criteria for granting money should be evaluated and adjusted to incorporate the needs of researchers who are not following the classical pathway

- becoming mother soon ... and a little later maybe phd ... interested in exchange and information

- (from a father): I have certain doubts about the usefulness of a mother-targeted initiative. Improving women's position in science is certainly important, the form of a network of mother's is however likely to turn out as a "cul de sac" or "boomerang". Apart from single parenthood, pregnancy and the very first weeks, there is no obvious justification to attribute child-raising responsibilities solely to mothers. Doing this may even corrupt the intentions of this network. An example I can give from personal experience: The Austrian Academy of Sciences, for their grant schemes of doctoral students, is reluctant to give special childcare allowances to men in science. What is meant as a special support for the position of women, clearly enforces their sole responsibility for child-care, even if in this case only in monetary terms.In my case, my partner is in science as well and child-care either institutional, private or domestic is required by both of us. Without external childcare neither my partner, nor I can pursue our scientific careers. Hence, when I do not receive a child allowance this may likewise affect her potential and even the quality of our scientific output. The usual alternative would be that one of us gives up pursuing a career in science or an equivalent priory of activities is organised. In my view, the whole gender inequality issue is most of all one of attributing women a special role in family relationships which excludes them from participation outside family relationships, in particular the labour market or science. If the interest is emancipation, then women's  attachment to domestic duties has to be undermined. This is not to say that only men will have to take their parts, but also that the special female position in family will get lost. I was taught by Paul Neurath, Son of the famous Otto Neurath. Now, Paul has made clear that his father may have been a brilliant scientist, but could not meet his family responsibilities (Paul was brought up in a children's home, as his mother died shortly after childbirth) . In fact the problem appears that domestic and scientific activity appear contradictory. If we want to improve this, we need to provide the conditions which allow for scientific quality AND family responsibility of men AND women. Hence I would strongly argue for extending the network into "parenthood and science".

- Congratulations

- Hi, I am mother of two wonderfull children aged 4 and 6   years, and I´m "trying to achieve" a PhD in my University. It´s not easy, as other scientist mothers told, but we can do it! It´s good to know that "we are not alone..." Keep going with good job!!

- This is a very good iniative! Carreer obstacles because of children is not only the sad reality of many female academics but also a taboo.