Two researchers from Curtin University have witnessed the effects of climate change up close as part of the inaugural Homeward Bound women-in-science leadership expedition \u2212 the biggest-ever female expedition to Antarctica.<\/p>\n
The three-week long expedition brought together 76 women, each with a background in science, to develop their leadership capacity and to discuss effective ways to fight for the future of the planet.<\/p>\n
Geographer and social demographer Dr Amanda Davies, of Curtin\u2019s School of Built Environment, and built environment researcher Dr Samantha Hall, of the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, joined participants from all over the world for the expedition, which departed for Antarctica from Ushuaia in Argentina on 2 December.<\/p>\n
Dr Davies said the Australian-led expedition was designed both to promote women in science and highlight the impact of climate change on the planet.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite major advancements in gender equity, women still only make up 28 per cent of the world\u2019s science researchers and occupy less than 10 per cent of senior leadership positions,\u201d Dr Davies said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we face the pressing challenges presented by climate change, we need to find ways to ensure we use all the talent we have.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to ensure that we have a diversity at the leadership table.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Davies said during the expedition she saw for herself the impacts of climate change, with colonies of penguins moving further towards the South Pole each year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile some species of penguins have been able to adapt to the warming climate, this is not an option for all species,\u201d Dr Davies said.<\/p>\n
Dr Davies also visited the USA\u2019s Palmer Research Station and discussed with the scientists the results of their nearly three decades of monitoring of the Antarctic environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe impact of global warming is very real and plain to see \u2212 in an environment like that it is hard to ignore that climate change is a massive problem,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
While in Antarctica the women worked collaboratively on a number of projects that brought together researchers from scientific and social science disciplines.<\/p>\n
Dr Davies said the interdisciplinary projects had seen the emergence of exciting new ideas for addressing global climate change and improving female representation in senior leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cHomeward Bound brought together 76 leading scientists from around the world who will now work together on joint research projects and find innovative and appropriate strategies for addressing climate change and gender equity in leadership,\u201d Dr Davies said.<\/p>\n
The expedition to Antarctica was led by Australian mountaineer Greg Mortimer OAM and \u2018unsurprisingly involved lots of mountain climbing\u2019, according to Dr Davies.<\/p>\n
Homeward Bound, conceived by leadership activist Fabian Dattner and Antarctic marine ecological modeler Jess Melbourne Thomas, is a leadership, strategic and science initiative for women that has turned into a global movement. It aims to heighten the influence and impact of women with a science background on policy and decision-making which affects the planet.<\/p>\n
The program has gained global media attention and was included in Fortune\u2019s list of things women could celebrate in 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n Women who participated in the inaugural expedition included astronomers, engineers, physicists, science communicators, Antarctic and Arctic specialists, doctors and social scientists.<\/p>\n