Dear Nancy,

Hello, I have attended GRC meetings for over a decade, and am very grateful for the many ways they have benefited the scientific community I participate in (rock deformation) as well as my personal career path.  I’m writing to request a change in GRC policy because I care deeply about the meetings.

This month I served as co-chair for the Power Hour. One of the questions we asked the participants to discuss was what topics felt important for future Power Hour discussions. The most common response (from nearly half the groups) was work-life balance. As you’re aware, lack of work-life balance is a major block for achieving equity in science—many women I’ve spoken to simply aren’t willing to make the dual sacrifices of (generally) minimal pay and a stressful, workaholic academic culture.

This brings me to the GRC. It was noted by participants in the Power Hour, that the GRC meeting itself—a nearly-continuous, multi-day blast of science and networking at all waking hours—is not a model of work-life balance. I’m not requesting a change in the schedule; I’m writing to simply ask for the flexibility for our meeting to make a choice that would improve work-life balance at the GRC. We would like the flexibility to hold Power Hour during the morning or evening session rather than during afternoon “free time.” We are already using free time to attend field trips, hike, swim, network, take a nap, or do other activities that are purposeful, community-building, rejuvenating, and otherwise meaningful and essential activities in line with the goals of the GRC.

Most of the issues discussed at Power Hour this summer seem far beyond us to change—so far beyond our reach that simply talking about them is a radical and empowering act. In this case, however, the opportunity to make a small and meaningful change could be enacted with a simple administrative change.

Please consider this request to allow our elected chairs the flexibility to modify the schedule in a way more aligned with the reasonable, thoughtful suggestions of Power Hour participants.

Thank you,

Steven Kidder