Helping to ensure EPFL is a Safe Space

L-R Carmela Troncoso, Deirdre Rochat, Chiara Ercolani, Alias Poma © 2021 EPFL A new initiative to support LGBTIQ+ communities at EPFL has been launched, creating a space for dialogue and growth, and helping our campus to be more inclusive and attentive to LGBTIQ+ topics. Safe Space , a new cross campus and grassroots project, months in the making and backed by the Vice Presidency of Responsible Transformation, aims to support EPFL's LGBTIQ+ communities by building a network of queer people and allies, and a space to share experiences to create positive change. Safe Space launches as Pride Month ends, to ensure that EPFL's LGBTIQ+ communities have support all year long. Safe Space for positive change Those driving Safe Space forward include School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) PhD candidate Chiara Ercolani, UNIL student Alias Poma, Assistant Professor Carmela Troncoso and Head of Communications Deirdre Rochat, both in the School of Computer Science and Communication (IC). Ercolani says while the COVID pandemic delayed the launch of Safe Space, the original motivation behind the initiative remains unchanged. "LGBTIQ+ communities are an invisible minority as we can't recognize each other on the street and, because of this, it's important that we are more visible on the EPFL campus. There are a lot of queer people at EPFL and there are certain things that we can help each other with.