Women of the Poles

This detector is so big that it used the Earth as a filter and the Antarctic ice sheet as a lens to see when these very tiny high energy particles would interact and emit light that traveled through the ice. It combined all the things I was passionate about, physics, astronomy and Antarctica!

After I finished studying, I went on to become a science teacher and help other students see that there were so many amazing places that studying science can take you. When I was in school, I never would have thought I could go to the polar regions to do science. I particularly like to inspire girls that they can go into any field of work they want. I was one of only two or three girls at my university doing a masters degree in Physics and I was the only girl graduating in my undergraduate class. Studying Antarctica was a more balanced group of girls and boys but it has only recently been that way. The first women to do science in Antarctica was not until 1952 when Maria Klenova went to study Geology. Now, there are lots of women working in Antarctica from scientists to diesel mechanics!

I encourage everyone to think of all the amazing places on this wonderful planet that being a scientist can take you. Antarctica is my favorite, as I love how they are protected under the Antarctic Treaty. Since 1961, this document dedicates the whole continent to peace and science. It's not owned by anyone! Best of all, everyone gets along working together from different bases to help get the science done safely. This is what inspires me to be passionate about science whereever I go. I now inspire other people to be inspired in their own expeditions. I hope you feel inspired too!

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