(Episode 147) Who Gets to Belong? LGBT+ History Month

Описание: 🎧 Show notes


Episode title: Who Gets to Belong? LGBT+ History Month


Podcast: Research Culture Uncovered


Host: Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths (Researcher Development Advisor, University of Leeds)


Episode overview


LGBT+ History Month takes place every February, and the 2026 theme is Science & Innovation. In this episode, Heledd is joined by Morgan Buswell and Dr Robin Hayward to explore what LGBT+ History Month means in a research context — including how science and innovation spaces are experienced by LGBT+ colleagues, why some stories and contributions remain overlooked, and what helps create cultures where people genuinely feel able to belong and thrive.


The conversation reflects on the balance between celebration and realism, the emotional labour involved in community and visibility work, and the importance of curiosity, psychological safety, and practical inclusion within research cultures.


Featured contributors


Morgan Buswell (he/him) - Morgan works across internal and external communications at the University of Leeds and has been Co-Chair of the University’s LGBT+ Staff Network for the past two years. In this role, he supports community building, visibility, and inclusive engagement across the institution, helping to create spaces where LGBT+ colleagues feel able to connect, be heard, and access support.


Connect with Morgan: LinkedIn: Morgan Buswell (  / morgan-buswell-7ab90a231  )


Dr Robin Hayward (they/them)


Dr Robin Hayward is the Communications and Engagement Officer for the Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere and Forest Centre (LEAF) at the University of Leeds, sharing research into trees and woodlands across the institution. Robin was also part of the team that developed the University’s Inclusive Fieldwork Hub, supporting safety, equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ fieldworkers.


Outside the University, Robin is a freelance science communicator, communication trainer, LGBTQ+ educator and designer, specialising in the intersection between nature and LGBTQ+ identities. They were recently commissioned to create the official badge design for LGBT+ History Month 2026.


Connect with Robin

1. LinkedIn: Robin Hayward (  / canopyrobin  )
2. Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/canopyrobin.com
3. Bluesky (LEAF): https://bsky.app/profile/leedsleaf.bs...
4. Website: https://canopyrobin.com/
5. LEAF: https://leaf.leeds.ac.uk/
6. Inclusive Fieldwork Hub: https://inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/ (https://inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.u...)
7. Instagram:   / canopyrobin  
8. Instagram (LEAF):   / leeds_leaf  
9. TikTok:   / canopyrobin  
10. Threads: https://www.threads.com/@canopyrobin
11. Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/search?q=%40c...


Key themes explored

1. LGBT+ History Month as celebration and education
2. Belonging, visibility, and emotional labour in research cultures
3. Whose stories are remembered — and whose are overlooked
4. Inclusive fieldwork and practical guidance for safer research environments
5. Curiosity, respect, and psychological safety as foundations for belonging


Resources mentioned

1. LGBT+ History Month (official site)
2. https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/ (https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/?u...)
3. Inclusive Fieldwork Hub (University of Leeds)
4. https://inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/ (https://inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.u...)
5. PRIDE Guidelines for LGBTQ+ fieldworkers
6. https://inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.u... (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.ou...)
7. Podcast Episode 137 — Drag, law, and the value of collaborative knowledge sharing
8. https://research-culture.captivate.fm... (https://research-culture.captivate.fm...)


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