I work as an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator for a professional society that seeks to help scientists (specifically light scientists) thrive in their careers. Unsuprisingly, only 20% of this workforce is made up of women and there is a smaller still percentage of women in leadership positions. We have found in our surveys that many women drop out of the workforce mid-career (most likely to start families). Do you have any advice for how to help women balance having children and advancing their academic career? It seems that science is a field that is just so competitive that being out of it, even for a short stent of maternity leave, leads women to feel inferior to their male colleagues and then pursue a different career. Thanks!