I had the pleasure of chatting with Kara Digby from @itvnews.bsky.social Meridian recently about the importance of #LGBTQI+ representation in #STEM.
Must say I wa happy with the video!
www.itv.com/watch/news/lgbtq-history-month-2026-celebrates-the-communitys-contributions-to-stem/nw28rz9
Hello everyone!
Sorry, been quiet for a while!
But, end of Feb I'm co-organising a conference for trans, NB, intersex, etc for researchers and students in STEM.
We have some great speakers lined up (more dets l8r)!
It'd be awesome to see folx there
lnkd.in/eAFtbxUV or transstemuk.substack.com
One of my dearest friends hosted a murder mystery party on Saturday. I had a most wonderful time with friends old and new.
And as the theme was ole time circus, well, I had to dress the part (well, circus/ #steampunk )
I had a fantastic day with the @royalsociety.org at #LondonPride this year. I loved seeing people respond to us specifically.
I have fantastic acceptance as a scientist, but I do and have faced discrimination. It's had an impact my career. But far less that others I know. Let's make #ScienceForAll
Looking for a beautiful book for young people on the earth? Then can I recommend this beautifully illustrated and written book by @drlperezdiaz.bsky.social
I can't recommend this highly enough.
And it's never too early to start a lovely for #science #stem
#STEMforAll #ScienceForAll
Absolutely amazing time at #LondonPride yesterday.
So happy to be there with the @royalsociety.org supporting #STEMforAll
Bonus my new Converse turned up the day before, which I hadn't expected.
In times of hate, so amazing to see the love
#prideMonth #stem
#TransScientist #transgender #lgbt
People may question the use of alarmist language but when such language starts to be used, you have to ask why.
And as a trans person living in the UK, I know full well why such language is being used.
www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-vic...
it is very transparent they have an outcome in mind and choose their evidence to suit their desired narrative.
and how about we start treating people with dignity and respect. even those who are not yet adults
funny how the current gov approach of being 'evidence led' means ignoring scientific experts and cherry picking research and data.
we have to stop this unscientific approach adopted by our leaders.
www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-nat...
Entrance steps to the Vienna conference centre, with EGU stickers going up
A welcome sign at EGU, saying simply welcome
A large crowd with soft pink lighting, and on stage a covers band
Wonderful session at the @egu.eu conference in Vienna. Lots of great initiatives and a fantastic panel to be part of. Lovely evening to finish off.
Posts to come next week about a few of the wonderful people I spoke to.
Picture of a sunny garden, with various plants (including an alba, rhubarb plant, heather and cordaline) in the foreground and a little fairy house, and in the background is a slackline that has been set up
Is this the year I master the slackline?
Probably not. But I'll give it a good go.
For me, the fun is trying. I don't have to master everything just try the things I want to try.
And I don't mind a fall. Only way I'll get better!
We can choose the businesses and groups we support, the people we spend our precious time with.
I choose those who support people.
There will be waves of anti-trans rehetoric coming up. But know there are good organisations out there and choose them
We have the right to feel safe, valued, respected. The world isn't a bubble. But generally, people are good. I like the people and organisations I surround myself with. Not everyone believe they have to choose between supporting trans people and other people.
And some awesome organisations have put out supportive statements, that they value trans scientists. I saw a strong one from the @rsc.org
Next week there will be an exciting post about a new children's book I have been featured in.
Today I went to @ Gallery Bouldering in Oxford. Always been super friendly, they have a queer climbing night and also have unisex bathrooms and changing rooms. I feel a happy part of their community. (And after last year's broken hand, I finally feel I am getting back through the grades!)
Picture of two old battered pairs of climbing shoes, some board games and a ragged old pride flag doormat
Last night I went to a queer boardgame group, Oxford GAYmers. I used to be a regular and intend to regain that. Plenty of cis-gay men and women who have no issue with me using the bathroom and joining games.
Can you not work on cancer research if you or your family has, or has had cancer? Might get cancer?
What about research on women’s health, only to be done by men?
Research on climate change, only by people who do not live on this planet?
Double standards
Another little note, at the @rsc.org EDI day on Tuesday I heard from another person doing research about trans people. They faced the pushback, how can you do work on trans people if you are trans/NB/have trans family. We faced the same criticism.
www.rsc.org/news-events/...
Amazing how many free speech activists tried to distort this project.
Free speech – Ha.
Correct speech only!
Anyways, this essay was a good opportunity to share that project.
It could easily have been stronger, but I think we got the tone right and I hope proves useful.
I’m proud of the research project this was written about. It faced challenges simply for focussing trans youth.
And I only advised, I was not a researcher on the project.
This research was properly researched, but faced so much criticism because of the content
healthtalk.org/introduction...
Yesterday I was at a launch event for a series of essays on the power of community engagement in research sponsored by @britsciassoc.bsky.social
l
There are some amazing articles to read. And yes, I was a co-author on one - obvious which, lol
www.britishscienceassociation.org/creating-kno...
Great to be at the Royal Society of Chemistry EDI day today. Especially to hear the results of the LGBTQ+STEM inclusion grants.
We need to fund scientists now for them to achieve max potential. (& not just LGBTQ+ scientists).
Leaders take time to become leaders www.rsc.org/prizes-fundi...
No idea why I showered before I went. I was straight into the middle as soon as I got in the venue...
Sorry! 🙂
That's so cool! Gosh, I saw them so many times I'm the 90s and 00s
It was so good
Awesome gig tonight. Terrorvision. 1st saw em 30 ago and still 1 of the best live bands around.
Oh, @terrorvisiontone.bsky.social Josephine rocks. It was so nice to have fairly sweet, accepting song about trans people when I was growing up. There wasn't much of it. We could do with more these days
I'm probably gonna spam this for a while tbh. Sorry if it gets annoying but I want people to know and remember that the resources exist. If you want to help these have impact, please share them with cis and straight scientists who do fieldwork, not just the LGBTQ+ ones!
Awesome day at the Royal Edinburgh Observatory today, celebrating #IWD. Inspiring to meet so many awesome people and I even got a tour of the facility including the old telescope. So cool. Thanks to Edinburgh Uni and STFC for hosting me (and the Cooper Bears) #edi #stem #science
Amazing. Thanks for sharing. It was great to chat with you too 🙂
