LGBTQ+ people in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) continue to struggle to openly to be themselves.

LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies from the School of Life Sciences at ARU introduce their research and discuss their different experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ+ researchers.

Event presented to support #LGBTQSTEMDay and raise awareness and increase support to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM.

Speakers include:

Amber Cordice . Amber’s research was centred around the effects of season and behaviour on parasite burden in domestic sheep. She is an ARU zoology graduate, going to study veterinary medicine next year. She is passionate about science communication, animal welfare and increasing visibility of minority groups. Being a mixed white and black Caribbean and a lesbian, Amber wish to use her experiences to help others. She believes with hard work, everyone deserves equal opportunities.

Jacob Dunn . Jacob carry out research into vocal communication and the evolution of language. His research takes a broad comparative perspective, ranging from detailed descriptions of vocal anatomy, through to recording animal sounds, carrying out playback experiments, and using macroevolutionary analyses to test evolutionary hypotheses. Jacob is also interested in the evolution of the mammalian brain. He is a cisgender, heterosexual, male and grew up with gay parents. He considers himself an ally.

Wahaj Mahmood-Brown . Wahaj’s research focuses on ecological interactions on coral reefs between the dynamics of physical structures, diversity of herbivores, composition of the benthic habitat and availability of photosynthetically active radiation. Wahaj is an ARU alumni, having graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation, winning the 2019 R.I.D.O. grant for summer research and the 2020 Best Student award. As a mature, BAME, LGBTQ+ person, he takes pride in having excelled as a STEM science student, against systemic odds, not just at ARU but also as at internships and volunteering roles. His ethos is to provide representation and solidarity for other LGBTQ+ STEM scientists and students.

Andrew Smith. Andrew’s research focus on primate behavioural ecology, inc. colour vision, feeding ecology and forest regeneration. He also works with students on a variety of projects spanning animal welfare, turtle nesting ecology and zoo-based studies. Andrew is a principal lecturer and university teaching fellow in Life Sciences (Zoology), and has been at ARU since 2003. He teaches modules on mammals and zoos and zoo animal management, as well as running the second year research skills module. In addition to interests in primates, other mammals and zoos, he is a keen diver and has run dive trips for biology students since 2005.

Claudia Wascher . Claudia’s research focus on physiological and cognitive mechanisms of social behaviour in birds, for example greylag geese and carrion crows. As a lesbian scientist, she is passionate about diversity in academia. Claudia is pleased how things have improved since she started training as a scientist. As a more experienced researcher she now actively tries to make academia a more welcoming environment for everybody.