Diversity of family models: University of Bonn starts Diversity Days!

Diversity of family models: University of Bonn starts Diversity Days!

The University of Bonn opened the eagerly awaited Diversity Days on June 5, 2025, under the motto “Family Time: Diversity & Compatibility”. Prof. Dr. In her speech, Irmgard Förster emphasized the diversity of family models and the importance of compatibility between family and science. This event was organized in close collaboration with the Vice-Rectorate, the Office for Equal Opportunities and Diversity and the Family Office at the University of Bonn.

A central concern of this event is to improve the compatibility of family and science, especially for women, who traditionally bear the brunt of care work. This unequal distribution can not only lead to challenges in professional life, but also lead to many women leaving academic careers. To counteract this problem, the family office offers individual and confidential advice for all family constellations and provides 144 daycare places and 11 parent-child rooms.

Variety of events

The Diversity Days include a variety of activities, including workshops on “combining parenthood and science.” A particular focus is on addressing (chosen) families and queer communities. In this context, Leah Petersen reported on the discrimination against trans* people in her parents' home. Negative reactions from parents to the outing of trans* children were discussed, which can lead to an increased risk of mental and physical illness. The queer communities here offer support and protection.

Sascha Sistenich researches solidarity-based queer communities, their role as “communities of care” and the importance of safe spaces will also be discussed in a panel discussion. The structural disadvantages faced by mothers in science were discussed by Dr. Sarah Czerney and Dr. Lena Eckert addresses the issue. They emphasized that the scientific system is often oriented towards lifestyles without care work, which puts many women at a disadvantage.

The Diversity Days events are not only a platform for exchange, but also offer the opportunity to reflect on the structural conditions in science. As part of a workshop, ideas for supporting researchers and teachers with family responsibility were developed. A World Café to discuss the University of Bonn's diversity strategy brought together over 40 university members to discuss topics such as anti-discrimination, educational equity and gender equality.

Origins and goals of Diversity Days

In cooperation with the Queer Network NRW and the Family Office, the event conveys the importance of synergies between science and civil society organizations. The planned activities, which will take place in German, include readings and a workshop as well as a strategy workshop. Childcare during the events is provided by the family office, so that employees of the University of Bonn can take part without having to organize care for their children.

The Diversity Days 2025 are based on the findings and discussions from previous events. These pointed to the so-called “care concentration gap”, which addresses the unequal distribution of care work. A workshop analyzed the challenges women and mothers face in science and discussed possible solutions. Phenomena such as the Leaky Pipeline and the Maternal Wall, which strongly influence the career paths of many women and mothers in science, were discussed.

The exchange on these critical topics will continue, and the University of Bonn's diversity strategy is scheduled to be completed in summer 2025. The Diversity Days come to an impressive end with a final network meeting in the area of ​​equal opportunities and diversity.

For further information about the events and topics of the Diversity Days, those interested can contact the Family Office at the University of Bonn or visit the website Focus on family and science visit. Additional insights into the Diversity Days and developments at the University of Bonn are also included Equal opportunities at the University of Bonn to find, as well as at University of Bremen, which offer valuable contributions to these topics.