Four years ago, then-students Bonnie Brown and Paige Ross were in search of a campus space that would foster inclusivity for all students in STEM. Now, that space exists through Cal Poly Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM), a club that fosters a community of LGBTQ+ students in STEM fields on campus and helps members connect with like-minded peers.
The Cal Poly chapter is part of the larger national oSTEM organization. In 2022, Brown attended the national oSTEM professional development summit, where she got the idea to start a chapter at Cal Poly.
Club meetings mostly consist of fun social activities to get students’ minds off the classroom grind and create a relaxing and creative space.
Members also hold informative sessions about queer history, campus resources and more.
“We hold these meetings every week for people to gather, talk and have a good time in a space where they feel supported,” said the club’s co-president, Willem Bitterolf.
Recently, Cal Poly oSTEM traveled to Genentech’s headquarters in San Francisco to tour the facility, meet members of other student chapters and connect with Genentech’s gPRIDE program.
Through professional events and other forms of networking in the LGBTQ+ community, Cal Poly’s oSTEM chapter aims to foster a more comfortable and inclusive space in the STEM world.