EPS Community Award

oSTEM: Out in STEM

AW-Community

Out in STEM (oSTEM) has continued to be the embodiment of inclusivity across the college. Some LGBTQ+ people, especially students stuck living at home, find themselves at risk or out of reach from their community. oSTEM made it their mission to improve this and put countless hours into the oSTEM Birmingham Discord Server, a virtual community where current students, staff and alumni, both nationally and internationally, could feel a part of their community. In the words of one fresher: ‘the Discord Server has provided me with invaluable links to other students, particularly with older students, that could not have been found in other ways, especially given the circumstances.’ oSTEM created a community hub from the Discord Server by launching many virtual events from coffee socials to an infamous virtual quiz that ran almost every week without fail since March 2020. oSTEM pushed further to forge support networks throughout the intersecting marginalised communities within EPS by collaborating with WISE, BEaMS and the 93% Club. Together they organised the second year of the Equal in STEM conference as well as a photo contest with WISE and the LGBTQ+ Association. Finally, oSTEM adapted the STEM, LGBTQ & You 2021 conference to use an innovative online platform which ultimately increased attendance as the online nature of the event made it safer for closeted members of the community to attend. oSTEM has been exceedingly proactive in making inroads to support those across the college and have been a pillar within the EPS Community and the University’s LGBTQ+ community.