There's 50,000 euros in the new Nanny Fund from NWO's Aspasia program. Aspasia is aimed at 'an even distribution of women in the highest scientific ranks'. Universities that decide to promote a woman to become a professor as a result from a Vici grant, may apply for an extra 100,000 euros – at least half of which should be used for its diversity policy.

In her inaugural speech in December, professor of Applied Geometric Algorithms Bettina Speckmann mentioned she and the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science want to use the Aspasia grant to be able to allow researchers with young children to travel.

For young researchers such as PhD candidates and postdocs it's essential to attend important conferences in their area of expertise, Speckmann explains. “Having young children complicates that. Most of the time, you just can't leave to attend a conference in the US for a week. If the mother is the one who travels and the kids are still young, they often tag along. But you can't very well leave them in your hotel room. You need someone to travel with you and take care of the children, then, but people who are just starting their career don't have the funds to arrange anything like that.”

The Nanny Fund, which pays for travel and accommodation expenses of the children and their nanny during important conferences, fits in with the emancipation goals of the Aspasia program, since it will mostly concern mothers whose careers are hampered because they have to take care of their young children. But fathers can apply for funding just as well, Speckmann stresses. Moreover, the costs for a babysitter at home may be covered by the fund as well.

Mathematics & Computer Science staff can apply for reimbursement from the Nanny Fund over the next three years under the header Travel Permit for Travel Abroad at MyTU/e. Applications are assessed by HR advisor Charl Kuiters of Mathematics & Computer Science. He expects the fund to be discontinued as soon as the 50,000 euros are used up. “ But if it's a hit, the Executive Board can decide to continue the initiative, of course.”

Fun fact: the Nanny Fund logo, featuring Marry Poppins' silhouette, was created by Speckmann herself, using the curved schematization software that was developed by her own group.