09 Jun

Posted at 19:06h in Uncategorized
0 Likes

 BOULDER, Colo. – Brian Murphy was selected today as the winner of the 2021 Out Astronaut Contest, a competition hosted by the Out Astronaut Project. The Out Astronaut Project increases the visible representation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) identified persons in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.   Out Astronaut is sponsored through the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), a research and education institute specializing in aeronomy, bioastronautics, operational science, flight test engineering, and science education.  Murphy, a gay, non-binary astronomy student, will attend the Phase I Fundamentals of Astronautics course this September hosted at Florida Tech in Melbourne, FL.   The intent of the program is to train and fly an openly LGBTQ+ person as a spaceflight researcher.  Of the 561 individuals that have been selected as astronauts or cosmonauts, none have ever identified openly as a member of the LGBTQ+ community during their tenure as an active astronaut.   “Just three years ago, I was closeted and cut off from the world of LGBTQ+ outreach and activism.  Now, I have been selected as the 2021 Out Astronaut, and get to work with the inspiring Out Astronaut team, and their partners to see a more visible and inclusive future become reality”, said Murphy, “I am so thankful for all of the support I have received, and I look forward to chasing the dreams of LGBTQ+ acceptance in STEM and human spaceflight for years to come.”   The LGBTQ+ community is notably under-represented in STEM professions. According to a recent poll conducted by...

15 Mar

Posted at 20:21h in Uncategorized
6 Likes

Boulder Colo. – The Out Astronaut Project announced its public release today and starts its mission to help address the under-representation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people in science and in the space industry. The Out Astronaut Project will collaborate with Project PoSSUM, the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, and Stardom, a Colorado-based space education organization that serves to broaden scientific literacy and space advocacy. The project has also been partnering with numerous public outreach partners including oSTEM, Pride in STEM, 500 Queer Scientists, and Queer in STEM. Presently, there are few out LGBTQ STEM professionals serving as role models to LGBTQ youth; more than 40 percent of LGBTQ people in STEM are not out and gay and bisexual students are less likely to follow an academic career. Notably, of over 560 individuals that have been selected as astronauts or cosmonauts, none have ever identified openly as a member of the LGBTQ community. The mission of the Out Astronaut Project is to train and fly a member of the LGBTQ community as a scientist-astronaut while highlighting the contributions of current LGBTQ members making contributions in science and space. The selected individual will conduct relevant research of our upper atmosphere as part of Project PoSSUM. The Out Astronaut Project’s advisory board will contain a dozen prominent LGBTQ members currently contributing as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professionals in space-related fields. These members will be available to volunteer to talk to schools and organizations about science and the roles and...