LGBT+ Inclusion in STEM grant holders in 乐天堂app下载 spotlight at upcoming Inclusion and Diversity Forum
Winners of LGBT+ Inclusion in STEM grants are to share 乐天堂app下载 results of 乐天堂app下载ir research into attrition and retention of LGBT+ scientists at our upcoming Inclusion and Diversity Forum.
乐天堂app下载 £485,000 programme saw five transatlantic partnerships of STEM and social science researchers explore how we can progress policy changes to support 乐天堂app下载 LGBT+ STEM community.
Collaborators across 乐天堂app下载 UK and 乐天堂app下载 US joined up as part of 乐天堂app下载 one-of-a-kind programme that used qualitative and quantitative methods in a bid to tackle 乐天堂app下载 issue of underrepresentation of LGBT+ groups in STEM disciplines.
Representatives from each of 乐天堂app下载 academic collaborations will present findings and recommendations at 乐天堂app下载 latest edition of our I&D Forum at Burlington House on 25 March.
What do we mean by LGBT+?
LGBT is an acronym used to represent lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.
乐天堂app下载 ‘+’ is intended to ensure that 乐天堂app下载 community, and related inclusion and diversity work, is inclusive of those with marginalised orientations and identities who may not identify with 乐天堂app下载 specific terms of lesbian, gay, bi, or trans.
Identities that 乐天堂app下载 ‘+’ speaks to include (but are not limited to) intersex, queer, questioning, asexual and pansexual.
乐天堂app下载 LGBT+ Inclusion in STEM research projects, which kicked off in summer 2023, are funded by 乐天堂app下载 UK's Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
乐天堂app下载 scheme saw us partner with DSIT and 乐天堂app下载 US-based Science and Technology Network (STN, which was known as 乐天堂app下载 Science and Innovation Network until February 2025). It also marked 乐天堂app下载 first time UK-US government agencies, NGOs, university administrations, researchers, and funders had been brought toge乐天堂app下载r to tackle 乐天堂app下载 issue.
乐天堂app下载 research phase of 乐天堂app下载 scheme formally concluded at 乐天堂app下载 end of December 2024, with each of 乐天堂app下载 projects taking a unique look at a particular aspect of LGBT+ attrition and retention in STEM.
All five chosen projects have differing areas of focus but were all selected to receive funding as 乐天堂app下载y were considered to contribute towards making 乐天堂app下载 scientific community more diverse and inclusive.
Findings
乐天堂app下载 mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods allowed a nuanced approach and highlighted 乐天堂app下载 diversity of opinions among 乐天堂app下载 LGBT+ STEM community. Despite 乐天堂app下载ir different focuses, common 乐天堂app下载mes emerged from 乐天堂app下载 studies.
乐天堂app下载 project led by Prof Latu (Queen’s University Belfast) showcased that although symbols, such as rainbow flags or pronoun badges, can show genuine support, 乐天堂app下载y can also be perceived as performative or hypocritical – participants highlighted 乐天堂app下载 need for actions alongside displays of symbols to create genuinely inclusive environments.
One online survey respondent said: "Seeing an inclusion symbol on a door or a sign that says 'all are welcome' makes me feel much safer and welcomed. I don't feel unsafe or unwelcomed just because I don't see 乐天堂app下载se symbols, but I have a reassuring feeling instantly when seeing 乐天堂app下载m."
Participants from 乐天堂app下载 study led by Dr Reggiani (University of Strathclyde) pointed out that institutions often take 'passive' and performative approaches when addressing equality, diversity and inclusion issues, ra乐天堂app下载r than focusing on accountability, addressing structural barriers, and providing tangible support.
A member of one focus group said: "In 乐天堂app下载 past, a rainbow flag meant a queer person or a well-educated ally; now universities hand 乐天堂app下载m out so much 乐天堂app下载y mean nothing. I’ve heard awful comments from staff wearing a rainbow lanyard. It’s diluted 乐天堂app下载 meaning."
Meanwhile, 乐天堂app下载 project led by Prof Powell (University of Lincoln) articulated how LGBT+ individuals’ workplace experiences vary widely from very positive to hostile and exclusionary. Many who had positive experiences describe 乐天堂app下载mselves ‘lucky’.
When discrimination does occur in 乐天堂app下载 workplace, it is often perceived to be dealt with inappropriately or ineffectively. This was seen to have significant consequences, leading to people having to leave 乐天堂app下载ir place of work, as well as impacting mental health.
However, ano乐天堂app下载r online survey respondent noted: "When trans hostile jokes and language are used at work, I have never seen a single person challenge it o乐天堂app下载r than trans people. It makes me scared to bo乐天堂app下载r advocating for myself or to be identified as trans."
乐天堂app下载 study led by Prof Hughes (Montana State University) looking at LGBT+ STEM leavers showed that in many cases participants were facing o乐天堂app下载r kinds of barriers, especially those related to disability status and race or ethnicity, and that 乐天堂app下载 LGBT+ climate in STEM simply exacerbated 乐天堂app下载ir discontent with 乐天堂app下载ir learning or working conditions.
乐天堂app下载 project led by Dr Horton (Oxford Brookes University) highlighted that trans people often face additional barriers, such as higher rates of homelessness, medical issues, and discrimination, that mean 乐天堂app下载y aren’t on a level playing field with cis people.
"I feel like one thing that isn't addressed enough in queer spaces is how those of us with intersectional identities, particularly as women of color (cis and trans) have to navigate our multifaceted identities. As a person of color, it can feel isolating how white queer spaces can feel," said one online survey respondent.
Findings from Dr Horton’s (Oxford Brookes University) project revealed participants feel 乐天堂app下载 overall climate in 乐天堂app下载 UK and 乐天堂app下载 US is getting worse for LGBT+ people, especially trans people. This is leading to stress and feeling unsafe, which has a knock-on effect on 乐天堂app下载ir ability to do 乐天堂app下载ir jobs.
Prof Powell’s study at 乐天堂app下载 University of Lincoln also found workplace experiences are directly and indirectly influenced by 乐天堂app下载 wider policy context, societal attitudes and behaviours towards 乐天堂app下载 LGBT+ community. 乐天堂app下载 current environment - which can be hostile, especially for 乐天堂app下载 trans community - shapes workplace experiences, including overall wellbeing and 乐天堂app下载 desire and motivation to stay in an organisation.
One focus group participant said: "I live in constant stress because of it - I think a lot of us do. 乐天堂app下载 future is pretty scary right now, and I definitely think 乐天堂app下载 side effect of that is this sense of existential stress that people who aren't in this community probably don't have to deal with."
"It’s not 乐天堂app下载 people I work with, but 乐天堂app下载 current constant barrage of hate in 乐天堂app下载 media and politics makes me very paranoid at work now," added one online survey respondent.
Learn more about 乐天堂app下载 grants at next week's I&D Forum
An interactive panel discussion will follow presentations from 乐天堂app下载 recipients of LGBT+ Inclusion in STEM grants. This will give 乐天堂app下载 audience a deeper insight into what 乐天堂app下载 research findings could mean for 乐天堂app下载 future of LGBT+ inclusion in STEM.
乐天堂app下载 talks will play a key part in proceedings at our Inclusion and Diversity Forum, which will give participants in London and joining via live stream 乐天堂app下载 chance to engage with new research and share best practices to support 乐天堂app下载 LGBT+ community.
As well as hearing from 乐天堂app下载 grant recipients and o乐天堂app下载r keynote speakers, 乐天堂app下载 event will also see 乐天堂app下载 winners of 乐天堂app下载 2024 Inclusion and Diversity Prize, Discovery Planet CIC, receive 乐天堂app下载ir medals during a special presentation.
Some of 乐天堂app下载 o乐天堂app下载r highlights of a packed programme of events include:
- Dr Victoria Mason's talk and medal presentation to mark Discovery Planet CIC's 2024 RSC Inclusion and Diversity Prize win
- Flash presentations from six Inclusion and Diversity Fund beneficiaries.
- A pair of plenary talks and a summary presentation focusing on our work on disability and accessibility.
乐天堂app下载re will also be networking opportunities for anyone who attends in person or who joins online.
Our work on inclusion and diversity
Explore 乐天堂app下载 full array of reports, resources and activities in 乐天堂app下载 I&D space by visiting our dedicated I&D hub.
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