The California Academy of Sciences has a new exhibit celebrating LGBTQ+ people of color.
The exhibit, called "New Science," is a pop-up displaying women and gender minorities of color who work in STEMM. It is a celebration of their contributions to the academic discipline, providing much needed representation in a sector which can often be non-supportive.
"Queer and intersectional identities are revolutionizing how science gets done," the Academy says on their website. The exhibit urges visitors to shift away from "gate-keeping and conformity," and instead encourages them to value identity.
"The way that we ask questions in science, that help us solve the global problems that we’re facing in the world today, simply have been done for too long with too little diversity," Curator of Arachnology Dr. Loren Esposito said. "It’s really time to change if we’re ever going to stand a chance solving those problems going forward."
Esposito is featured in the exhibit, proudly displaying her She/They pronouns. She says STEMM has long struggled with a lack of diversity especially in the higher up positions.
However, this exhibit provides a space for those under-represented people.
"For example," said Esposito, "we have one of the first Hispanic women that’s the chair of the surgical department in the county."
Another individual featured is the first non-binary scientist working in A.I., who has dedicated their career to making sure technology does not harm people who identify under the transgender spectrum.
One of the best parts of the exhibit is that it’s designed as a pop-up.
"The idea behind New Science is that we want it to be a resource for any museum, public space, school, or other organization, to display these scientists and tell their stories for free," Esposito said.
Visitors can even check the exhibit out virtually on the Academy’s website to learn a little bit more about these LGBTQ+ scientists.
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