Despite legislative advances, many members of the LGTBIQ+ community in science and academia (an estimated 72%) feel the need to suppress their identity to avoid likely repercussions on their professional careers or hostile work environments. Increasing their visibility and making LGTBIQ+ individuals feel safer in every environment is a joint goal and shared commitment.
This is the motivation behind the launch of #CienciaDiversaUPV, a project promoted by the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+I) of the Office of Communications of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), with the collaboration of the Equality Unit of the UPV and the group Diversa de Generación Espontánea, and with the participation of It Gets Better España.
This project, which has the backing of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT, for its Spanish initials) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, aims to give a voice to all people in the field of science, including students and professors, with the aim of creating a network of thought leaders and individuals bound together by relationship, sexual and gender diversity, in recognition of their academic, scientific and professional contributions.
On May 3rd, the project’s camera operators were seen at Campus Gandia filming the opinions, experiences, reflections and testimonies about the reality of the LGTBIQ+ community in science and academia.
Some days later, they were seen at the Alcoi and Valencia Campuses. These opinions and testimonies will be published on the official UPV accounts on the different social media platforms, with one clear objective: to contribute to a greater visibility of the LGTBIQ + communities in these fields and the recognition of the rights of each person, regardless of how they choose to live their identity.
Your voice can change someone else’s life!
More information: Luis Zurano Conches, UPV Office of Communication