Kirsty in Pole position to promote science
A former Forth Valley College graduate is soon to embark on an expedition to Antarctica.
Dr Kirsty Robb (36), from Stirling, is one of only three Scottish-based women on a ship which will in January sail south as part of Homeward Bound, a leadership and science initiative for women.
The trip aims to raise the profile of women with a science background and help them influence policy and decision making.
Launched in 2016, Homeward Bound invited 1,000 women from around the world, all with science, maths and technology backgrounds, to undertake the 12-month programme.
Along with her fellow Scottish based expedition mates – Helen Wade and Lorna Slater – Kirsty will be leaving Scotland for Argentina on Boxing Day and travelling from there to Antarctica on December 31 – a trip expected to take two days.
The expedition is due to spend around two weeks on the frozen continent, before returning to Argentina to continue the development project followed by a return to the UK at the beginning of February.
Kirsty had to raise £14,000 to help her take part in the expedition and managed to reach her target with the help of family, friends, colleagues and sponsors including Forth Valley College’s Foundation, Scottish Schools Education Research Centre and the University of Strathclyde.
She said: “I can’t wait to get going. The year has gone in really quickly raising money and preparing for the Homeward Bound adventure.
“I can’t thank everyone who has helped me over the last 12 months enough for their support and I am determined to use this opportunity as best I can and do Scotland proud.”
Kirsty began her career at Forth Valley College with an NQ in applied biological sciences just over a decade ago.
Originally from Girvan in Ayrshire, she completed an HND in biological sciences at FVC and won best student award in the department of applied science when she graduated in 2009. She then enrolled at Strathclyde University in the third year of a BSc Hons degree in biochemistry and immunology, graduating in 2011 and beginning her PhD.
Now a post-doctoral researcher at the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science in Glasgow, Kirsty is working with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the fight against superbugs.
An experienced mountaineer and mountain leader, qualified to guide people in the Highlands of Scotland, she is also regularly visits schools to promote science.
Referring to the expedition, Kirsty said: “One of the main reasons we are going to Antarctica is about climate change and how it affects us all. It will be the summer when we are there, but it will still be temperatures of between zero and -15 degrees Centigrade, so it will be really challenging.
“It will without doubt be one of the highlights of my career and I think it will change my life.’’