Today (18 November) British Antarctic Survey (BAS) joins global celebrations to mark LGBTQ+ STEM DAY and Polar Pride Day. Polar Pride is a celebration of the contribution of LGBTQ+ people in polar research and operations. The day was originally designated by the Government of the British Antarctic Territory and South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) in 2020.
Celebrating in the UK
The Progress Pride flag flies in front of the BAS Cambridge Office this week to celebrate Polar Pride 2024. Staff will join together in person this week to mark how the BAS community is working together to create an inclusive environment for everyone.
Celebrating at the poles
Polar Pride was marked at at bird fieldwork site Klovningen Nunatak where a team from BAS and the Norwegian Troll Research Station on Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica were looking for snow petrel nests.
Adam Owen, the electricical maintenance technician at Bird Island Research Station, took the Polar Pride flag up to nearby Tonk Peak.
The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Pride Network have worked with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), BAS and colleagues to create an engaging and inclusive online celebration to mark the day, with similar internal events being held in other organisations, including those of Diversity in UK Polar Science (DiPSI) Committee members.
Diversity in UK Polar Science
The Diversity in UK Polar Science initiative, conceived and funded by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office Polar Regions Department, celebrates existing diversity, and takes an important step forward to promote and enhance Antarctic science opportunities to under-represented groups, including women, people from ethnic minorities, BAME, LGBTQ+ community and people with a disability. You can explore online resources here.
Join the celebrations online with #PolarPride2024, #LGBTSTEMDay and #DiversityinPolarScience.
