Stories of Pride: Maxwell McManus

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 Maxwell McManus, a PhD student in the department of Electrical Engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo). Maxwell received his BS degree summa cum laude in Electrical Engineering at SUNY Buffalo in 2019, and his MS in Electrical Engineering in 2021.

Maxwell's research interests lie in digital twin technology, intelligent system self-configuration, and next-generation wireless networking. He is currently conducting research in the Wireless Intelligent Networking and Security (WINGS) Laboratory at SUNY Buffalo on new machine-learning algorithms to enable zero-touch self-configuration of wireless networks. He is also contributing to the design of an open-source digital twin testbed for wireless networking. In his free time, Maxwell loves to crochet, go hiking, and camping.

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

There is no single person that comes to mind when I try to answer this question. Instead, I am inspired by so many people I have met in the LGBTQ+ community who are comfortable sharing their experiences because that openness is critical to allowing others to feel comfortable and secure in their own identity. I am inspired by everyone I have met who advocates for inclusion and provides a voice to our community, and I am inspired by everyone I have met who is open about their identity and provides a face to our community. I think it's easy to take inspiration from the simple things happening all around you: they tend to be the most powerful. 

How can allies actively support LGBTQ+ scientists and engineers?

I see so many people believing that events and projects which seek to support our LGBTQ+ community have some prerequisite for participation. I don't think that should be true. Events like that exist to celebrate diversity and inclusion and assuming there is some restriction on who is invited based on identity is exactly the opposite of that celebration. I want everyone to feel welcome to attend such events. The point of these events and projects is to remove barriers to entry in general, to celebrate our differences, and to continually work together as a global community to improve our understanding of identity and each other as a whole. 

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

Think about the kind of representation you want to see in your field and strive to embody that example. In the past, I found myself putting on different faces in different places based on what seemed easy or based on the example set by those around me. This wasn't fair to myself or to them. I now strive to set an example for anyone who might be doing the same, by being honest about who I am to myself, my friends, and my coworkers. It isn't easy, and in some cases, it may not be possible. But learning how to provide that representation in the spaces you can, might make a huge difference to someone who is looking for it.  

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