The intersection of motherhood and fieldwork presents unique challenges and opportunities for researchers, particularly in the geoscience disciplines, which require extensive field research. Both fieldwork and parenting demand significant time, effort, and emotional investment – combining the two is an especially Herculean task that mothers in academia are often forced to face. Despite the growing recognition of the challenges faced by researchers with caregiving responsibilities, there remains a gap in support from academia that specifically addresses the dual pressures of motherhood and field research.

This townhall meeting aims to foster a dialogue among researchers who identify as mothers, sharing their experiences and strategies for coping while conducting fieldwork and managing parenting responsibilities. The topics discussed will reflect on personal narratives and strategies, while presenting a call to action for institutional support mechanisms that facilitate the integration of motherhood and rigorous research efforts. By bringing together mothers who are currently or have previously been engaged in fieldwork, we can illuminate diverse experiences and articulate best practices that may offer inspiration and support to others navigating this complex landscape. This townhall meeting represents a significant opportunity to amplify the voices of mother-researchers and to create a supportive community that recognizes and addresses the unique challenges faced by those balancing the demands of fieldwork and parenting. We believe that the insights gained from this gathering will not only benefit individual researchers but also contribute to broader institutional changes that prioritize work-life balance.

We invite mothers currently or previously engaged in fieldwork to attend the meeting and share their experiences. The townhall meeting is open to all researchers of any gender, academics, and practitioners interested in gender and family dynamics. We would especially appreciate attendance by institutional leaders interested in supporting work-life balance in academia. We hope that hearing experiences from mother-researchers can inspire the next generation of women academics and show that there does not need to be a choice between career and motherhood. We look forward to your participation and the meaningful conversations that will emerge from this collective gathering of experiences and ideas.