Stories of Pride: Craig Poku

In celebration of Pride Month, SPIE spoke with members of our community about their experiences as LGBTQ+ scientists in optics and photonics as well as within the greater STEM community. Our third conversation is with Craig Poku (he/they), a UK-based data scientist for Datasparq, an organization focused on helping companies design ethical data solutions. He is also a trustee of Pride in STEM, an organization that supports LGBTQIA+ scientists and engineers around the world.

Craig holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics and a PhD in atmospheric sciences from the University of Leeds. He is a food writer and baker, sharing his visually enticing work on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @Pokubakes, and a robust advocate of accessible science communication. Recently, he hosted the Pride in STEM podcast episode entitled “The Inescapable Link Between Science Communication and Identity,” discussing the topic with science communicator Sarah Cosgriff.

Is there an LGBTQ+ person in your life who has inspired you?

I rarely saw any Black queer people growing up. However, if I think about it now, I would definitely say Dr. Ronx Ikharia, who is a great example of Black Queerness. For me, the reason why Dr. Ronx is an inspiration is because they are unapologetically Black and great at presenting their full selves in everything they do. And, honestly, that helped me feel that I could be able to embrace my Black and queer identities much more.

How can allies actively support LGBTQ+ scientists and engineers?

For me, the biggest support is acknowledging that being an ally isn't easy and will require work. For example, if you see a colleague dealing with homophobic abuse, it's good to stand up for them there and then, as opposed to just shying away in the corner.

What is one piece of advice you can offer the LGBTQ+ scientists and engineers of the future?

Things are getting better, and places such as Pride in STEM are good in terms of building community. However, we still have work to do, and allies are a big part of that.

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