LGBTQ+ Wikithon
In celebration of LGBTQ+ STEMM day, UCL Out-in-Geography & UCL Women in Physics Group are organising a free wikithon with talks, lunch & Wikipedia training. Open to everyone!
LGBTQ+ Wikithon
05 Jul 2019, 11:00 – 15:00
Wikipedia is the 5th most visited site in the world with 1.5 million biographies in English yet falls significantly short of representing our diverse society. Similar to mainstream media, there is an unequal representation of the culture and people among the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer & questioning community (LGBTQ+) on Wikipedia. A known issue is that only 17% of Wikipedia biographies are about women.
We need your help to maintain, create and edit new pages to shine a light on notable members of the LGBTQ+ community, with an emphasis on scientists to celebrate LGBTQ+ STEMM day (July 5th). In a UK YouGov survey, Wikipedia was considered more trusted than the BBC - let’s make sure this free digital historical record is truly more inclusive!
Open to everyone at UCL and other academic or research institutions, regardless of subject field or gender; please register a ticket. Complete beginners and experienced editors are both welcome to attend - we’ll provide training for anyone new to editing! Please bring a laptop!
Event Schedule
The event is split into talks between 11.30-1pm and then a drop-in Wikithon session between 1-3pm with lunch provided. Please bring a laptop. You can choose to attend one or both activities - there is no commitment to go to both! If you plan on staying for the Wikithon please follow the pre-event instructions.
Schedule of talks - 11.30pm - 1pm:
Prof. Robert Mills (UCL, History of Art: Professor of medieval studies, Director of qUCL, UCL’s LGBTQ research network and lead on The Queer Tapestry Exhibition, showcasing the histories and voices of UCL’s LGBTQ+ community from the past 50 years and beyond.
Dr. Jess Wade (Imperial College, Physics): researcher on polymer-based light emitting diodes, BEM (British Empire Medal) recipient for services to gender equality in science, and Wikipedian founder Jimmy Wales’ “honourable mention” in the Wikimedian of the Year award. Jess has written over 500 Wikipedia biographies on scientists.
Dr. Alice White (Wellcome Trust): Digital Editor for the Wellcome Collection as well as the Wikimedian in Residence. She was awarded the Women in Engineering Society’s Amy Johnson Inspiration Award 2017.
- Please arrive before 11.40pm.
- 1pm - 3pm: Free lunch & Wikithon session with hands-on support to edit & create new articles!
- Please email and/or indicate on the sign-up form any dietary requirements.
- Please bring your laptop.
- Feel free to drop-in or out at any time.