"Empowering" LGBT+ STEMinar celebrates diversity in science

The fourth LGBT+ STEMinar was held at the Institute of Physics in London on Friday 11 January, bringing together LGBT+ researchers across science, technology, engineering and maths to share their research and discuss challenges facing the LGBT+ community.

Started in 2016, the LGBT+ STEMinar series aims to showcase work from diverse fields and encourage collaborations between different departments, universities, companies and subjects, while giving greater visibility to LGBT+ researchers. This year’s event was the biggest yet, with over 150 researchers from across the world gathering at the new London office of the Institute of Physics.

The conference was co-organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics (IOP) and Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and sponsored by the National Physical Laboratory, Royal Society of Biology, AWE, British Ecological Society, the Royal Society, Wellcome Trust and Springer Nature.

Dr James Claverley, science governance co-ordinator at the National Physical Laboratory and member of the IOP’s diversity and inclusion committee, said: “Today's LGBT+ STEMinar has exceeded my expectations in terms of engagement, participation, networking and visibility, and it’s absolutely fantastic that so many people support the work that we are doing in this area. 

“We aspire to give LGBT+ scientists and researchers the opportunity to present their work in a safe environment – in a very accepting and inclusive environment. We give these researchers the opportunity to network with peers, now from across the world, and the opportunity for professional development. We also give them the opportunity to be themselves in a scientific environment where they may not necessarily – in their own institutions or their own field – have been able to be 100% themselves.”

The first keynote speech came from Dr Izzy Jayasinghe, lecturer and lead investigator of the Nanoscale Microscopy Group at the University of Leeds. Her talk, entitled ‘Finding solace in STEM’ was a powerful personal reflection on her journey beginning in Sri Lanka in the grip of civil war, finding acceptance and developing her love of science growing up in New Zealand, and her experiences of the changing attitudes to LGBT+ rights throughout her career.

A series of scientific talks and flash poster presentations from across STEM followed, covering topics such as quantum computing, parasite control in mice, and cleaning up legacy nuclear waste sites. A panel discussion chaired by Professor Polly Arnold and featuring Dr Matt Mears, Anna-Jayne Metcalfe and Professor Anson Mackay, explored issues such as how institutions can support LGBT+ staff travelling to countries with less inclusive environments.

One of the aims of the conference is to provide development opportunities for delegates and all of the speakers were invited to attend a workshop on public speaking and science communication the day before the event.

Professor Peter Coles, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Maynooth University in Ireland gave the closing keynote speech, exploring his experiences being out as a researcher in astrophysics. He called for institutions and organisations to run a greater number of smaller scale events throughout the year, to keep up the momentum generated by the conference and further embed some of its aims and values.

“I think having more local events would be good,” said Lucy Wheeler, chemistry PhD student at the University of York. “It's a big undertaking to do one annual event and I know this year it was quite oversubscribed.

“It’s really great, the atmosphere is so friendly, people are laughing… it's a very light atmosphere. I think a big part of that is that we all know we have some common ground but there isn't that sense of competition that you sometimes get with very subject specific conferences. Here, no one else is an expert in anyone else's science so everyone's here to learn.

“In coming here, everyone's opening up a part of themselves that isn't always the easiest part to open up. People are being their truest selves and when you're bringing that vulnerability and openness to the table then that can lead to a more inclusive atmosphere.”

The event was attended by members of senior leadership from all three organising societies, with Professor Paul Hardaker, CEO of the IOP, Philip Diamond, Executive Director of the RAS, and Dr Helen Pain, our deputy CEO, all addressing the delegates. The societies also presented a poster with some of the preliminary findings of our upcoming LGBT+ physical sciences climate report, due to be published in April. The report is the result of a survey and interviews, which gathered the perspectives of LGBT+ people working, studying or teaching in the physical sciences.

More information

Find out more about the LGBT+ physical sciences network, run jointly by the Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics and Royal Astronomical Society.

Find out more about Peter Coles and Izzy Jayasinghe, as well as other LGBT+ researchers, on the LGBTSTEM website, which hosts a growing collection of interviews with people across STEM fields.

Look out for activity taking place for the second International LGBTSTEM Day, celebrated on 5 July annually.