LGBTQIA+ in STEM

Growing up, Sarah had limited queer representation: they attended school during Section 28, a law which banned the ‘promotion of homosexuality’. While in school, they loved studying science and went on to pursue a BSc in Biological Sciences and a MSc in Systems Biology, both from the University of Warwick. Sarah’s personal experience drives their passion for raising the visibility of LGBTQ+ scientists, and as well as highlighting historic and present day discrimination they face.

For your organisation, Sarah can offer talks including:

  • Why LGBTQIA+ inclusion in STEM is important, and what workplaces can do

  • Examples of the contributions of LGBTQIA+ scientists

  • Sarah’s own experiences of being a queer science communicator

  • Science demonstrations

You can contact Sarah to discuss what they could do for your organisation.

Testimonials

““It was wonderful to host Sarah as a speaker as an LGBTSTEM Day speaker! She was easy to contact and liaise with, flexible both on dates and in presenting online or in person. The talk itself was interesting, informative and insightful – especially as many people tuning in knew very little about asexuality or the experience of being asexual – they broke down misconceptions about asexuality with science-themed analogies and provided important statistics. We received loads of great feedback from attendees, and would highly recommend Sarah to anyone looking for a speaker!”

Em Haydon, Wellcome Connections

“We were honoured to welcome Sarah as part of our company Pride Week celebrations. Their talk as part of our Lunch and Learn was not only engaging but deeply resonated with our audience - every attendee shared how relatable and impactful the session was. Thank you for bringing such authenticity, insight, and energy to the conversation. Your voice made a lasting impression and truly elevated our Pride Week experience!”

— Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe Ltd.

“Sarah Cosgriff delivered an outstanding plenary at our LGBTQ+ in STEM Day Conference, shedding light on the often-overlooked experiences of asexual individuals in STEM. Their talk was insightful, tackling misconceptions and inequalities while offering practical steps for ace inclusion. Sarah's expertise and thoughtful responses to audience questions were inspiring and informative. 5/5 stars – a truly impactful speaker!”

— Dave Lawson, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences EDI Champion, Bristol University

“Sarah was an exceptional speaker at our LGBTQ+ in STEM symposium! The talk was informative and impactful, and we received lots of positive feedback from the audience.”

— Lucy Ahern, LGBTQ+ Network Lead, Francis Crick Institute