Pride in STEMM: Voices Driving Change in Science

Pride in STEMM: Voices Driving Change in Science Kate Parks June is recognized globally as Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising, which marked a turning point in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement. Within science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM), Pride Month offers an opportunity to celebrate LGBTQIA+ identities, and to make sure their voices are heard, especially while they still face barriers that affect their career progression, personal safety, and well-being. STEMM fields shape the world we live in, and ensuring these fields are inclusive helps to push scientific innovation forward. In this listicle, LGBTQIA+ scientists share their perspectives on the progress that is still needed in STEMM, their inspirations, and words of advice for the next generation. Was there a particular person or experience that motivated you to choose a career in science? Barbara Belmont (BB): My high school math teacher gave me an award, so of course I wanted to be like her (I might also have had a crush on her). I had always been interested in science, in particular, computers and the Apollo missions. My transition to chemistry was not planned at all, but I knew it was the right thing to focus on once I took it in college. Chris Bakal (CB): Both my parents were academics. My father was a clinical psychologist specializing in pain and addiction, my mother was a computer scientist who was well ahead of her time. I remember using some of the very first versions of email and the internet in her lab. So, I grew up in universities. But it was my undergraduate mentor, Julian Davies, one of history’s most important microbiologists, who really showed me how rewarding, exciting, and fulfilling a life in the lab can be. Kristen Skruber (KS): Every mentor I’ve had has really shaped and continues to shape my career path. My postdoctoral mentor’s ethos to life and doing research was particularly transformative for me. Now, I’m at a primarily undergraduate institution at the nexus of both higher education and research, and it’s a tough time to engage with the institutions that fund and influence each of those spheres. So, I view it as actively choosing to be in science each day, and there are many reasons to be here. 1 Listicle Marco Reggiani (MR): Curiosity has always been a key driver of my career choices, particularly a desire to understand how the world is shaped by and for people. This interest led me to study both building engineering and architecture, as ways to make sense of how cities and regions are organized and how they might become more sustainable and just. Melvyn Yap (MY): I had a biology teacher who was very inspiring. She gave us an insight into the world of science because she came from a background in laboratory research. Her insights motivated me to look for an alternative career. That was also the time when the AIDS pandemic was blowing up. In realizing that I was gay, I wanted to find out more about this disease that was affecting the gay community. It was HIV that made me really interested in finding out more about retroviruses, and that's what led me to my career. It was a scary time, but seeing how science has advanced, it's made me glad to know that it's been reduced to a condition that is treatable. What are the main barriers for LGBTQIA+ people entering and progressing in STEMM, and what could be done to support them? BB: Many people still carry the notion that being openly LGBTQ+ could jeopardize career success, or even success as a student. Whether such danger is true, or whether ignorant but well-meaning people propagate that notion, the result is anxiety about living authentically as an LGBTQ+ person. "Legislation against discrimination, corporate commitment to diversity and equity, and progressive social change that champions inclusion and fairness will help drive this notion out of the conversation." — Barbara Belmont Many young people are still discovering their queerness, and this can be distracting (at the very least) and disastrous regarding family support (at the very worst) while still in school. Open, frank, and inclusive conversations about mental health and self-care should be the norm so that young people are aware of the resources and support available. CB: I have never encountered anything overt, and I feel that being gay has never hurt my progression, but I do think that “behind the scenes” there are still times when LGBTQ+ people might face bias in getting that grant, or getting that promotion. So, I worry that young LGBTQIA+ people are still going to have a tough time getting grants and jobs. What needs to be done is to provide more clarity and transparency regarding the actual hiring and grant funding processes; which even today are very opaque even to someone established like myself. But also make the committees and decision makers more accountable. If departments aren’t hiring women, minorities, or LGBTQIA+ people, there needs to be clear reasons why such decisions were made. KS: A contemporary throughline is job safety around whether to come out at work, which I think, for many, feels like a step back from a decade ago. I’ve been talking to an oSTEM group at an Eastern University led by an enterprising student who has been putting together career advice for upcoming graduates. He has found that job seekers’ biggest considerations are how to feel safe at work while navigating an increasingly difficult job market. Open and unwavering support comes in many forms, but for employers, I think showing an active interest in recruiting LGBTQIA+ individuals goes a really long way. PRIDE IN STEMM: VOICES DRIVING CHANGE IN SCIENCE 2 Listicle "There’s no downside to recruiting with diversity in mind—stronger teams and enterprises require it. A monolithic and homogeneous group experience stifles innovation, productivity, and creativity." — Dr. Kristen Skruber MR: My research shows that the barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ people entering and progressing in STEMM are complex and multifaceted. These include overt and subtle forms of hostility, challenges around visibility and disclosure, lack of tailored support and opportunities, and specific risks tied to fieldwork and travel. That said, progress has been made, albeit unevenly. Learned societies and community networks, such as Pride in STEM in the UK, have increasingly amplified queer voices in STEMM. Tailored mentoring, dedicated funding for inclusive initiatives, and institutional accountability can be highly effective. At a time when equity, diversity, and inclusion work is being contested in the US and elsewhere, strengthening these efforts feels especially important. MY: A lot of it comes from confidence in knowing you are able to come out in a safe space, and to know that you're supported and you will not be discriminated against. I'm very fortunate because the place that I'm working in is very supportive. At the Francis Crick Institute, we have an organization called Proud Crick, which is a support group for the LGBTQ community. We come together, have coffee mornings, talk to each other, and we take part in the Pride march every year. It helps to have support like that at work. What do you enjoy most about working in STEMM? What would you say are your proudest achievements? BB: Besides teaching, I really enjoy knowing how the physical universe works and what materials are made of. I accumulated a tremendous amount of knowledge in my 42 years in the industry workforce, and now I use that to bring real-life examples to my teaching. My proudest achievements include being named our university’s Faculty/Lecturer of the Year in 2023, being featured as an LGBTQ+ Trailblazer in the C&E News Out & Proud Issue, being awarded the Walt Westman Award by Out to Innovate, being inducted as an ACS Fellow, and completing my Professional Science Masters in Analytical Chemistry, which gave me an opportunity to teach at the college level. CB: Seeing my students learn, progress, and establish their own careers has been the most rewarding aspect of my job and makes me still want to come to work every day. Some students I have been lucky enough to see as interns, graduate students, postdocs, and even in their own labs now…this is just the best. It says that we, as a lab, have done a good job. KS: I think, like all scientists, I love a good mystery and getting to chase questions professionally. I find that understanding how things work is a really transformative outlook on life. It expands our “umwelt”, a German word that speaks to our sphere of perception of the physical world. So, in the classroom, I’m always hoping that even if students don’t remember the exact things we discussed, like the steps of oxidative phosphorylation, they’ll at least reenter the world with a transformed view of it, for example, why and how we use oxygen. Practically, I’m proud of every experiment I’ve ever gotten to work on because most experiments don’t work, particularly in vitro reconstitution. As a microscopist, I’m proud anytime we can (literally) shed light on something very small, some cellular process, or watch a single cell move. PRIDE IN STEMM: VOICES DRIVING CHANGE IN SCIENCE 3 Listicle MR: My role has given me access to opportunities and spaces I never imagined and has allowed me to speak to diverse audiences across countries, something that feels especially meaningful to me as a first-generation university graduate with no insider knowledge of academia. Some of my proudest achievements include co-creating StrathPride, the LGBTQIA+ staff and PGR/PGT network at the University of Strathclyde, influencing institutional policy and practice, and publishing some of the first UK-focused research on LGBTQIA+ people in STEM. Seeing this work making a tangible difference is deeply fulfilling. MY: Initially, it was the thrill of finding out new things about viruses and getting publications. COVID changed everything. During the lockdown, the Francis Crick Institute developed a pipeline to test people for COVID before PCR testing came along. That was something that I was very proud to be part of. More recently, being involved in public engagement has been rewarding. We have a World AIDS Day program at the Francis Crick Institute, and we've also started going out to charities to talk to individuals about their condition. Finally, mentoring the younger scientists who are starting out in science has been rewarding. It's nice to be able to pass on the skill of doing things on the bench and to encourage people to think creatively. If you could give one piece of advice to young LGBTQIA+ researchers beginning their career, what would it be? BB: Be yourself, be authentic, and give your very best effort to your education and employer. STEM is not easy at first, but it is very rewarding. CB: First off (sorry for the cliché), you have to find your passion, and don’t worry about whether it’s “hot,” fundable, exciting now—even if you don’t see a clear application for it—just pursue it. But that said—you have to make decisions on how best you are going to be able to continue following your passion…not just now, but 5, 10, and even 15 years down the line. Is what I am doing today going to ensure that I can still be doing this in a decade? (I ask myself that every day still). "Being LGBTQIA+ is a superpower in itself that you can bring to your work. We have had to be bold, creative, and independent thinkers just to make our way in this world, so we can bring some of that to STEMM thinking, experimental design, and analysis." — Prof. Chris Bakal KS: We have more transformative power than we think we do, perhaps by design. I’m always trying to remind myself and convey in my classroom that we create the world we want to live in, even through our smallest actions. Sometimes that’s hard to see because the institutions that we engage with are intergenerational projects and we don’t always get to witness the direct results of our actions. But by being out in STEMM, we are in conversation with everyone from Ben Barres to Lynn Conway, and we are having a direct impact on who gets to participate in the scientific process. That’s pretty powerful. MR: I would say: prioritize your well-being, especially your mental health, and remember that you are not alone. Find allies and mentors who support you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help; there are people who genuinely want to help you thrive. Seek out a wide range of opportunities, even those that may not seem immediately relevant. Build networks, connect with others, and share your ideas. At the same time, be gentle with yourself. Research careers are complex and learning how to navigate them takes time. I am still learning myself, and that is okay. MY: Know that you are not alone, reach out to others and do not feel that you are not worthy. You are just as worthy. Have confidence and do lots of networking—find your community. PRIDE IN STEMM: VOICES DRIVING CHANGE IN SCIENCE 4 Listicle About the interviewees: KS Barbara Belmont has been a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at California State University, Dominguez Hills since 2002. She mentors undergraduate research in natural products analysis, electroanalytical chemistry, organic chemical analysis, and laboratory curriculum development. Barbara is an advocate and champion for STEM education, public understanding of science, and broadening participation in STEM. Chris Bakal is the professor of cancer morphodynamics at the Institute of Cancer Research, London. He developed some of the first AI approaches for inferring cell signaling states from living cells. Importantly, Chris' research is built on the belief that patients are not averages, a principle that extends to building AI models that predict the health of diverse populations in the UK, including LGBTQ+ patients who are essentially invisible to most AI now. Outside the lab, Chris represents the LGBTQ+ club 'Out to Swim' in competitions, and is a former world-ranked downhill ski racer. Dr. Kristen Skruber is an assistant professor in the Biology Department at Gonzaga University in Washington and completed a PhD at the University of Florida studying molecular mechanisms of actin assembly in mammalian cells and a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of R. Dyche Mullins at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Marco Reggiani is a research fellow at the University of Strathclyde, working across urban studies, sustainability, and inclusion in STEM research environments. His research examines how equity, diversity, and inclusion shape research cultures, organizational practices, and academic careers. He is a co-founder of StrathPride, the University of Strathclyde’s LGBTQIA+ staff and PGR/PGT network, a trustee of Pride in STEM, and an award-winning author. Dr. Melvyn Yap completed a DPhil in retroviral production for gene therapy at the University of Oxford in 2000 before moving to London to join Jonathan Stoye’s group at the National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill. Now part of Kate Bishop’s lab at the Francis Crick Institute, his work focuses on Vpr, an accessory gene found in primate lentiviruses such as HIV-1. PRIDE IN STEMM: VOICES DRIVING CHANGE IN SCIENCE