Family and Science Belong Together: At the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, we believe that a successful scientific career and family life should be compatible.
We aim to foster an environment where students, doctoral researchers, postdocs, professors, and staff in administration, technical services, and workshops can thrive both professionally and personally.
Many family-friendly resources already exist within the faculty and at Heidelberg University.
At the same time, new initiatives are emerging directly from our community. Our goal is to make existing support more visible, share practical knowledge, and work together to address remaining challenges.
For detailed information, practical advice, and useful contacts, please see our Family Guide.
This guide contains detailed information on childcare, financial support, family facilities, university policies, and useful contacts:
The faculty already offers a variety of family-friendly facilities. These include
• Parent–Child Offices
• Kids Boxes and Child-Friendly Spaces
A comprehensive university-wide overview of nursing rooms, changing facilities, parent–child rooms, and Kids Boxes is currently being compiled as part of Heidelberg University's Family-Friendly University Audit.
Members of Heidelberg University have access to a range of childcare and family-support
services, including:
• Daycare and nursery places through Studierendenwerk Heidelberg
• Flexible childcare support
• University childcare funding schemes
• Support for conference travel and academic events
For detailed information, please see our Family Guide.
Since 2026, a Kids' Colloquium has been running alongside the Physics Colloquium.
The Physics Colloquium for the grown-ups, the Kids' Colloquium for the little ones. Science (and Fun) for everyone — just on different levels.
Children aged five and above can participate in a supervised programme of physics-related activities while their parents a[end the colloquium.
Many challenges of balancing family and academic life are best addressed through exchange with others who have faced similar situations.
We are therefore building a faculty-wide parents' network, open to students, doctoral researchers, postdocs, professors, and staff members across all areas of the faculty.
