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Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

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Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Inc., abbreviated oSTEM, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional society dedicated to LGBTQ+ individuals within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) community.

oSTEM, Inc.
Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Incorporated
Formation2005
FounderEric Patridge, PhD
TypeNonprofit
HeadquartersMichigan, USA
Area served
International
Executive Director and CEO
Lilian Martinez
President
Matthew Welmers
SubsidiariesQueer in AI
Staff3
Volunteers
90
Websitehttps://www.ostem.org/

History

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In October of 2005. IBM sponsored a focus group where students from across the United States convened at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters in Washington, D.C. These students discussed topics relevant to LGBTQ+ communities at their colleges and universities. They debated how to structure an organization that serves students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.[1]

Founded in 2009, the organization was granted 501(c)(3) status in 2010. oSTEM currently consists of more than 100 chapters across the United States and the United Kingdom.

Mission

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oSTEM strives to identify, address, and advocate for the needs of LGBTQ+ students and professionals within the STEM fields. oSTEM fulfills these needs by providing networking opportunities, mentorship connections, strategic collaborations, and professional/leadership development, as well as an annual global conference.[2][3]

Activities

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Conferences

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oSTEM hosts annual conferences[4][5] that discuss LGBTQ+ topics in STEM as well as intelligence fields.[6] Topics discussed include inclusion, outreach, and diversity within the workplace.[7][8] The goal of workshops, talks, and networking events for LGBTQ+ people is to help them integrate and move up in their fields.[9] The fourth annual conference was hosted jointly with the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals' Out to Innovate in Atlanta in 2014.[10]

LGBT STEM Day

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On July 5, 2018, oSTEM along with Pride in STEM,[11] House of STEM,[12] and InterEngineering[13] created international awareness for LGBTQ+ people in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.[14]

Awards

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oSTEM presents a variety of awards annually to individuals and organizations that demonstrate a strong dedication to advancing and empowering LGBTQ+ in STEM fields.[15]

oSTEM Volunteer of the Year Award

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According to the oSTEM website, "This award recognizes volunteers who have gone above and beyond to bring oSTEM to new heights in the last year. The Executive Board recognizes volunteers who have demonstrated their drive to achieve great things and push our organization to grow. In the past, awardees have been recognized for creating our scholarship program, spearheading the pivot to an online format for our cornerstone event during COVID, cultivating and expanding institutional support for professional members and collegiate members, and stepping into leadership roles with grace and professionalism. oSTEM is powered by the hard work and commitment of our volunteers."[16]

Previous awardees include:

  • Janine van Niekerk (2017)
  • Lilian Martinez and Sindhu Sreedhar (2018)
  • Christian Alonso (2019)
  • AJ Bryant (2020)
  • Abby Ray (2021)
  • M Wittkop (2022)
  • Zia Bresnahan (2023)

oSTEM Global STEM Service Award

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The oSTEM Global STEM Service Award is given to present and past oSTEM members who show strong dedication to inclusion, diversity, and equality for LGBTQ+ and other marginalized individuals in STEM fields.[17]

Awardees are:

  • Dr. Eric Patridge (2013)
  • Dr. Elena Long (2014)
  • Emily Li (2015)
  • Marjorie Willner (2016)
  • Elise Wantling (2017)
  • Aaron F. Mertz (2018)
  • Avery Cunningham (2019)
  • Cel Welsh (2020)
  • Lee Trent (2021)
  • Angie Gonzalez (2022)

oSTEM Strategic Alliance Award

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The oSTEM Strategic Alliance Award is presented to a current sponsoring organization, community partner, or grant provider of oSTEM who demonstrates strong dedication, engagement, and support to oSTEM and its values.

Awardees are:

oSTEM Partner Excellence Award

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The oSTEM Partner Excellence Award is presented to individuals associated with oSTEM accomplished in their much academic or professional lives who regularly advocate for the full inclusion of people of all marginalized identities.

Awardees are:

Overall Student Chapter of the Year

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The Overall Student Chapter of the Year is given to oSTEM chapters that educate, empower, and engage a diverse community. These chapters contrihelp a lot with finding LGBTQ students in the STEM community, helping them, and speaking up for themselves are:

Rookie Student Chapter of the Year

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The Rookie Student Chapter of the Year celebrates achievements by oSTEM chapters that have been founded within two years of application submission.

Awardees are:

Chapters

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There are over 100 chapters affiliated with the parent organization. Chapters are organized into six geographic regions (A–F) and a region that encompasses all chapters dedicated specifically to graduate students.

Student Chapters

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Map of the oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Regions in the United States.

The six regions are:

Professional Chapters

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The first professional chapter is currently being tested in the Boston metropolitan area. In 2020, there was a shift to a virtual professional chapter with members in the United States and United Kingdom, with a number of smaller in-person events occurring in those two regions.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "A Look at oSTEM: Out as LGBT+ in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics". Archived from the original on 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  2. ^ "New UC San Diego Chapter Sends LGBT+ Delegates to OSTEM Conference". Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  3. ^ "About OSTEM". Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  4. ^ "National Conference Discusses Being Out in STEM". Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  5. ^ "LGBTQ-Focused OSTEM Holds Seventh Annual Conference". 14 December 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  6. ^ "CIA Serves as Corporate Sponsor for National LGBT Conference". Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  7. ^ "FAU Student Speaks on Overcoming Adversity at 2015 National oSTEM Conference". Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  8. ^ "New UC San Diego Chapter Sends LGBT+ Delegates to OSTEM Conference". Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  9. ^ "UNL student creates oSTEM chapter to focus on LGBTQ community in STEM fields". 29 September 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  10. ^ "oSTEM and NOGLSTP joint meeting". Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  11. ^ "PRIDE IN STEM, A charitable trust for LGBT+ in Science, Engineering, Tech, and Maths". Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  12. ^ "HOUSE of STEM, A network of LGBTQ+ scientists in Ireland". Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  13. ^ "InterEngineering, Connecting, Informing and Empowering LGBT+ engineers and supporters". Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  14. ^ "THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHS; JULY 5TH, 2018". Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  15. ^ "oSTEM Annual Awards". Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  16. ^ "Awards - 14th Annual oSTEM Conference". conference.ostem.org. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  17. ^ "Coming out and standing up for others". 20 November 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  18. ^ "Steve Riley named 2017 oSTEM Partner Excellence award winner". Retrieved 2018-09-24.
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