Supporting our LGBTQIA+ Members in the School of Molecular Biosciences
The School of Molecular Biosciences aims to create a supportive and inclusive school that promotes development and progression of all our people – this includes those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, as well as gender identities and sexual orientations not included in the term LGBTQ and represented by ‘+’.
Vision and motivation
We first of all want to celebrate LGBTQ+ people in molecular biosciences. At the same time, we also recognise the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people in science: for example, the 2017 Postgraduate Experience Survey found that in UK STEM students who listed their gender as ‘other’ were significantly more likely to consider leaving their course of study than those who listed ‘male’ or ‘female’. Our overarching goal is therefore to continually improve the ways in which our School promotes equal opportunities and inclusion for our LGBTQ+ students and staff.
Aims:
- - To identify and address issues regarding working environment or equal opportunities experienced by LGBTQ+ staff and students in SMB.
- - To inform staff and students in SMB of practices to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and opportunities.
- - To organise, carry out, and monitor the impact of events promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility in SMB.
Achievements/Activities:
Although our group is relatively new, we have initiated a few events and campaigns in our first months. In the summer of 2023, we launched our first ‘Pride in Science’ event: we created posters highlighting prominent LGBTQ+ scientists past and present, with a coffee morning for SMB staff and students to have a first look at the posters.
In the autumn of 2023, we also connected with our EDI education team to create a list of tips for inclusive teaching, including LGBTQ+ inclusion advice from both literature and the University
Who we are:
We are a group of volunteers from among the staff and students of the School of Molecular Biosciences. If you have new ideas or want to get involved, please contact our LGBTQ+ lead Nathan Woodling
SMB's Statement on Trans Inclusion
We are writing to our community regarding the Supreme Court Ruling issued last week concerning transgender and non-binary gender and sex designations. While we are still learning what this ruling may mean in practice, we are acutely aware of how this ruling may impact the safety of our transgender and non-binary colleagues.
As a School, we are committed to:
- Treating all our colleagues, no matter their gender identity, in a dignified and non- discriminatory way.
- Supporting colleagues in relation to their gender identity, including transitioning at work.
- Helping all our colleagues be more aware about gender identity matters.
- Responding to any proposed university-level actions with clear communication about how the proposed actions would impact our transgender and non-binary colleagues.
- Treating any issues of bullying and harassment in relation to trans or non-binary identity issues seriously. If any member of our community needs support or wants to report any form of harassment, please reach out to our reporting and support services.
Students and colleagues can also access wellbeing support from our Student Support Hub and Colleague Wellbeing Hub support should this be helpful. If you want to speak to someone locally, you can email our LGBTQIA+ champion, Dr Nathan Woodling, or talk to our EDI Projects Coordinator, Dr Emily May Armstrong.
Do please get in contact if you have questions, or concerns, nathan.woodling@glasgow.ac.uk
