Women lead way to Antarctica in Homeward Bound project

THE world’s largest all-female expedition to Antarctica is setting sail to tackle climate change.

X-FACTOR: Tasmanian scientists involved in the all-female Homeward Bound project Justine Shaw, left, Meredith Nash, Mary-Anne Lea, Britta Denise Hardesty and Jess Melbourne-Thomas. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

THE world’s largest all-female expedition to Antarctica is setting sail to tackle climate change.

The team of 76 women represents the beginning of global collaboration among female scientists — as well as a push to encourage more females into leadership roles.

Six Tasmanians are participants in the Homeward Bound project, while four more Tasmanian women will be among the 10 voyage leaders.

Their 20-day voyage, which departs from Argentina on December 2, will see the participants mentored in leadership practices and come up with strategies to fight climate change.

Co-founder of the program, Jess Melbourne-Thomas, of the Australian Antarctic Division in Hobart, said the voyage was targeting women because they were globally under-represented in leadership positions in science.

She said many women were earning science degrees, but too few were going on to executive decision-making roles.

“The attrition rate is 60 per cent from junior to senior levels across the sciences,” Dr Melbourne-Thomas said.

But the all-female voyages are

aimed at changing that through leadership training and building a network of female leaders in science.

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies ecology and biodiversity deputy head Mary-Anne Lea said the participants would not only develop their own personal skills in leadership and strategy but collaborate on science.

Dr Lea, who is one of the leaders on the voyage, said Antarctica was chosen as a destination because the region was showing the world’s fastest response to climate change.

The women will visit several international bases in Antarctica.

Britta Denise Hardesty, a principal CSIRO research scientist, said she was looking forward to engaging with a global community of women scientists.

“I can’t wait to learn from these incredible women and to take what we learn, together, to inspire our communities, our families … and our world,” Dr Hardesty said.

Justine Shaw, of the ARC Centre of Excellence, said the benefits of the voyage would continue long after it was over.

“All of the women are going to walk off the boat having been skilled in leadership strategy and science,” Dr Shaw said.

The Tasmanian women were farewelled by Tasmanian Governor Kate Warner last night at Government House.