Sea change
On an epic journey to Antarctica to learn about leadership and climate change, a group of female scientists spearhead the charge to see more women gain powerful roles in science. By Cushla Chauhan.
Fabian Dattner is talking very fast, with an enthusiasm and passion that’s contagious. Just months out from the departure of Homeward Bound in December, an allfemale expedition to Antarctica that she literally dreamt up and made a reality, her excitement is warranted. But I suspect this woman would be a force of nature whatever the circumstances.
It was two years ago that Dattner, one of Australia’s foremost leadership experts, co-founded Homeward Bound with marine ecologist Dr Jessica Melbourne-Thomas, a research scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division, embarking on a project that aims to bring global awareness to the low representation of women in leadership roles and their glaring absence from decision-making on issues that affect the state of our planet.
Now 76 female scientists from all over the world will board the ship for a 20-day excursion to Antarctica to learn about an environment that is showing some of the most clear effects of global warming on the planet, while also gaining vital leadership and strategy skills.
The voyage is just the start of a yearlong project and part of a 10-year outreach initiative to build a 1,000-strong global collaboration of women in science who, it’s envisioned, will go on to affect change towards a sustainable future.
Remarkably, this monumental venture started as a dream after Dattner had met a group of female Antarctic specialists. “I can’t remember the point where it went from joy and excitement about the miraculous work these women did to grief and anger,” she says. “It became incredibly apparent that this very brilliant group of women felt their voices at the leadership table simply were not heard, and then the story evolved into their grief.”
Dattner went to bed that night feeling dismayed, but the vivid dream she had was one of hope. “I dreamt of taking female scientists from all over the world to Antarctica and giving them state-of-the-art education on the way there, connections with scientists who can inform us about what’s happening with the planet, and state-of-the-art strategy-execution skills on the return, so that these women could go out into the world and influence policy and decision-making for the greater good,” she says.
The next day she shared her vision with her friend Dr Melbourne-Thomas, and the two set out to make it happen. Later, just three weeks after releasing a call to potential participants, 180 expressions of interest were received from women around the world.
While each candidate had to have a science background and the confidence to lead, Dattner also sought diversity. “Women are at their best when not structurally hierarchical,” she states. “And so we’ve got someone like Monica Araya, who is probably one of most influential women at the UN on climate change, and then we’ve got a young marine biologist at the start of her PhD.”
She adds: “Women are half the population and our voices are absent and yet we excel in every single leadership capability: we have a legacy mind-set, we’re collaborative, inclusive, honourable and have high integrity.”
It seems others agree. The self-funded project has gained the support of the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies and the Australian Antarctic Division, and has attracted globally esteemed experts, including primatologist Dr Jane Goodall and top marine biologist Dr Sylvia Earle. Dattner has never been to Antarctica before, but says she and her husband disappear into the wilderness for six weeks each year, so she feels somewhat prepared. “I’m more overwhelmed at the prospect of being on a ship with these amazing people and the [documentary] film crew,” she says. “It’s going to make me fight even harder for our voices to be heard. I’ll let you in on a little secret, though: I get motion sickness!” A small obstacle, one would guess, for a woman who has set such a phenomenal wheel in motion. For details, go to www.homewardboundprojects.com.au.