Founder of STEM, LGBTQ & You Discusses Inclusivity in Science
"Building a network of peers and mentors who value diversity and inclusion can provide invaluable support as you navigate your career." – Avery Cunningham
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After completing a BSc in nuclear science and materials in 2020 from the University of Birmingham, Avery Cunningham began working on widening participation in STEMM. He currently works as an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) business partner at Birmingham City University, where he supports the faculty of computing, engineering and the built environment, and the faculty of health, education and life sciences, as well as various other LGBTQ+ initiatives across the University.
Since 2019, he has volunteered with oSTEM, the largest chapter-based STEMM organization in the world. He is now the director of international relations and strategy and annual conference co-chair for oSTEM.
Avery remains dedicated to the LGBTQ+ in STEMM space, creating the regional conference event STEM, LGBTQ & You while still a student, which has just celebrated its sixth year. He also serves as vice chair of IOM3 Pride, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Minings Pride network, and was the inaugural winner of their Outstanding Contribution Award for EDI in 2022. He is also a trustee of Birmingham Pride Community Fund, which supports local LGBTQ+ initiatives across the West Midlands.
Kate Robinson (KR): How do you identify and what pronouns do you use?
Avery Cunningham (AC): I identify as a transgender man. I'm also biromantic and demisexual. Additionally, I am autistic and I identify as a massive queer nerd, who loves things like Dungeons & Dragons, board games and videogames.
These aspects of my identity are all significant because they interact with how I experience the world. They shape my perspectives, interactions and relationships in unique ways, so I always like to introduce myself with all of them, including the things I like to spend my time doing! I am more than just my sexual orientation, my gender or my disability. In terms of pronouns, I use he/him.
KR: What inspired you to create STEM, LGBTQ & You?
AC: Having attended the oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) annual conference each year in the USA since 2017, I found an immense sense of community and support among fellow LGBTQ+ individuals in STEMM fields. There was something profoundly empowering about being surrounded by queer individuals who shared similar passions and interests in STEMM.
One aspect of the oSTEM conference that particularly resonated with me was the sense of camaraderie and belonging among attendees. It wasn't just about showcasing research or professional achievements; it was also about creating a space where queer nerds could come together to share their work, their research or simply their enthusiasm for their respective fields.
I wanted to bring the heart of the oSTEM conference to the UK and create a similar sense of community and inclusivity within the STEMM landscape here. STEM, LGBTQ & You aims to do just that by providing a platform for LGBTQ+ individuals in STEMM to connect, support each other and celebrate their multifaceted identities. By showcasing the diversity of experiences within the LGBTQ+ STEMM community, we hope to foster a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to pursue their passions and make meaningful contributions to their fields. I also wanted a place where there was importance in acknowledging the whole person beyond their professional identity as a scientist or engineer. I think we sometimes forget about the whole person.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working in STEMM? What would you say are your proudest achievements?
A: I feel very on the tangent to STEMM at the moment, though I still support it. Although I always say I still feel like an engineer, in that I still analyze, design and create to solve problems, my problems are much more people-focused now.
What I enjoy most about working in STEMM is that I feel it's a place where I get to be a huge nerd and solve problems. There's a sense of fulfillment in knowing that the work I do has the potential to make a positive impact on society. From when I wanted to work in nuclear energy and solve our energy crisis, to now where I support STEMM faculties through EDI, for me it has always been about making the world just a little bit better. I think the best thing we can all hope for is making a positive impact, no matter how big or small, on other people.
One of my proudest achievements in STEMM has been the communities I've created. Fostering spaces where individuals can come together, share experiences and support each other has been incredibly rewarding. From mentoring transgender undergraduates to advocating for diversity and inclusion in the STEMM community, I've seen firsthand the impact that these communities can have on individuals' lives and careers. This includes my work with oSTEM student chapters, the conference and all the other bits I do!
Overall, what I enjoy most about working in STEMM is the opportunity to pursue my passions, make meaningful contributions to my field and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to do the same.
KR: What are the main barriers for LGBTQIA+ people entering and progressing in STEMM, and what could be done to support them?
AC: There are barriers, and sadly, the more work I do, the more I realize that some of these are societal rather than specific to STEMM fields. While the discrimination and biases faced by LGBTQ+ individuals are prevalent across many sectors, the impact within STEMM is particularly pronounced. This is due to the traditionally male-dominated nature of these fields and a lack of diverse role models.
Considering this lens is crucial, as it highlights the broader cultural challenges that need to be addressed alongside those unique to STEMM. Recognizing this overlap emphasizes the importance of our collective responsibility in fostering inclusive environments, not just within our professional domains, but in society at large. By leveraging the influence we hold in STEMM, we can spearhead initiatives that challenge these societal norms, promote diversity and create a ripple effect that encourages acceptance and equality beyond our immediate spheres.
KR: Have you faced any obstacles in your career due to identifying as LGBTQIA+?
AC: I haven’t had any specific instances of overt homophobia or transphobia that have hindered me. However equally, Googling me makes my identity very obvious. Also, if I took out all of my LGBTQ+ specific work from my CV then it would be a lot less impressive!
I have always struggled with the feeling I have to be so out compared to my peers.
The intersection aspect of my identity has been where I have struggled the most. Being both autistic and transgender can make you feel like an outsider in your own body, let alone in STEMM. Along with this, science is hard, so that feeling of self-doubt, that you aren’t good enough and you aren’t achieving enough feels all the more common. So, when you look around and people like you don’t seem to be in STEMM, it makes it hard for you to continue.
My identity has also been a barrier when considering the next steps in my career. I have to make sure to ask questions such as: will I be expected to travel to places where it's illegal for me to exist and if so, will I be disadvantaged compared to my colleagues if I don’t?
I am limited to living in major cities so I’m more likely to have a community of people like me to support me if needed.
It's also difficult finding a place that lets you look like you. I’m far from saying all queer people have or need things like tattoos, piercing and dyed hair, but finding places where I can express myself in that way has been important, but this causes me worries in interviews. Will they mind a tattoo peeking out? Will they think this shirt is too loud? Do they mind my stretched ears?
However, despite these obstacles, I keep trying to be my authentic self. Sharing these experiences, looking how I want to look and setting boundaries that keep me safe. Hopefully inspiring some others to do the same along the way!
KR: If you could give any advice to young LGBTQIA+ researchers beginning their career, what would it be?
AC: Find your community. I wouldn’t have finished my degree without the community I found in oSTEM, first through my chapter at my university, before finding the global network. It's where I found role models to look up to across the UK and beyond, and where I found friends that kept me going through all that. It's also where I met my partner of eight years, so I can definitely also recommend it for that aspect!
These supportive communities, including our allies, offer us so much in terms of guidance, mentorship and understanding.
Building a network of peers and mentors who value diversity and inclusion can provide invaluable support as you navigate your career.
I have LGBTQ+ mentors who have offered me so much and have helped me believe I could find a place for myself, and now I get to do the same for others. I have had great support from many allies, from personal tutors who pushed to get my name changed on systems and academics advising me what to ask at interview to make sure a supervisor is inclusive, to managers who are happy to sort out surgical leave for me, rather than making it something else to stress about.
Also finally, it's a bit cliché, but believe in yourself and your abilities. I had so many people believe in me and help me get to where I am. People who heard my ideas and sat down with me to help make it happen, and that's how I got here today.
Avery Cunningham was speaking to Kate Robinson, Science Editor for Technology Networks.
About the interviewee:
Avery Cunningham is an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) business partner at Birmingham City University, where he supports the faculty of computing, engineering and the built environment, and the faculty of health, education and life sciences, as well as various other LGBTQ+ initiatives across the University.
