PhD candidate Ben Wilks ‘15 and undergraduate student Braxton Morrison ‘21 recently attended the Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM) annual conference in Detroit, Michigan. The conference was attended by over 800 students and professionals in STEM fields and took place November 14-17. 

Braxton Morrison ‘21:

The conference gave me opportunities that I would not have found anywhere else. These opportunities included not only learning about resources for LGBTQ people in STEM, but also training in practical skills. The conference gave students like myself a chance to meet dozens of other LGBTQ people pursuing undergraduate and graduate STEM degrees, as well as LGBTQ professionals working in a range of STEM fields. For me, speaking with other people with similar identities and interests helped combat the stereotype that an LGBTQ identity and STEM degree did not mesh well. The conference also supported LGBTQ people in STEM with programming to train attendees to be better allies for LGBTQ people with other marginalized identities. The programming also included identity-based discussion groups on topics like race, gender and disability. Speakers running these groups not only promoted awareness, but also gave advice to students facing identity-specific issues in their academic and professional careers.

By attending several workshops on mentorship and networking events, I learned directly from professionals in fields that interested me. Professionals were open to students contacting them to provide advice and answer questions about their career trajectory. The conference also jump-started oSTEM’s mentorship program. Under this program, students are being matched with professionals in their fields of interest with shared identities. Several career and graduate school expos also presented a great chance to speak to company representatives one-on-one, so that attendees could learn what working at that company entailed - including their LGBTQ affinity groups - and apply for internships. Workshops at the conference also provided students with STEM-field-specific skills to write resumes and perform interviews.

Overall, attending the conference was an amazing chance not only to learn about integrating my identity and work, but also to develop myself professionally. I would highly recommend it to any undergraduates or graduates interested in attending.

Ben Wilks '15:

I think it is incredibly important to have role models and mentors who you can see yourself in. I've never had a STEM class or research experience with an openly LGBTQ+ professor at any stage of my academic career or even met an openly LGBTQ+ professor of engineering. I think the oSTEM conference is really valuable because it is the first time I was in a space full of scientists who were all LGBTQ+ so we could really integrate our personal and professional identities. I'm currently wrapping up my PhD so it was also really exciting to see and talk with so many companies that have strong employee resource groups (ERGs) focused on community, outreach, and trying to ensure that their employees are supported.