Scientific conferences can inspire researchers to take new directions in their work and help them to meet new employers and collaborators. The opportunities on offer are not, however,

equally open to all. For scientists who are members of under-represented groups, conferences can be unwelcoming environments, where they are repeatedly interrupted, face hostile questioning,

receive comments on their appearance, are excluded from leadership roles and worse because of their gender, skin colour or other aspects of their identity. These interviews have been edited

for length and clarity.