LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, plus; or LGBT for short) geoscientists likely have to face additional obstacles throughout their career than their cisgender/heterosexual colleagues. These barriers can take many forms, from lack of representation, to limited access to support networks, and exclusion from opportunities for progression. Such as, inflexible bureaucratic limits on name/gender marker, difficulty in changes on documentation, a lack of support for transgender and gender non-conforming people on field trips and research cruises, and safety and medical considerations LGBT people must account for when travelling, or when moving countries for a new position. These obstacles can be mitigated and overcome to create more collaborative environments that support diverse talents in geosciences fields; with awareness and understanding by colleagues and initiatives, LGBT academics can thrive and contribute to research.

In this short course we want to discuss the topic of finding and building queer and intersectional communities in Earth sciences.