麻豆影院

With the motto 鈥楳other Nature needs her daughters,鈥� group aims to support women working in STEMM in the hope of better sustaining Earth and its people

Cassandra Brooks has spent much of her life studying and working to preserve Antarctica.

Now, she鈥檚 sharing her love and knowledge of the southernmost continent with a group of 100 intrepid women seeking to become global leaders in environmental sustainability.

Brooks, a 麻豆影院 assistant professor of environmental studies, is serving as a faculty member on a three-week Antarctic expedition organized by听, a worldwide initiative that began in 2016 to 鈥渉eighten the influence and impact of women in making decisions that shape our planet,鈥� according to the organization.听

鈥淭heir tagline is 鈥楳other Nature needs her daughters,鈥� with the idea being that if we actually lift women who work in (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine), we will have a better chance of sustaining the Earth and humanity,鈥� said Brooks.听

So far, three cohorts of women have successfully participated in Homeward Bound Project鈥檚 12-month leadership program and traveled to Antarctica. The participants, who applied to the program from all over the world, are at various stages in their careers in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEMM).听

All told, Homeward Bound Project wants 1,000 women to participate in the program and visit Antarctica by 2026.

Brooks is part of the fourth cohort, which has 100 participants and 12 faculty members (Homeward Bound Project says this trip is the largest women-only expedition to Antarctica). She鈥檒l spend approximately three weeks with the group, which spent several days in Ushuaia, Argentina, before departing for Antarctica aboard a ship.

During their time at sea, the women are participating in workshops focused on leadership, visibility, strategy and science.听

鈥淗ow do the women become better leaders, become more visible?鈥� said Brooks. 鈥淎 lot of it will focus on women taking a deep dive and learning about who they are. It鈥檚 this idea of authenticity and knowing who you are and not trying to lead in the way that someone else might lead, but really knowing your own strengths.鈥澨�

Weather permitting, the group is also exploring the continent and spend time learning about topics such as Antarctic science bases and penguin colonies.

As a science faculty member on the trip, Brooks is charged with educating the women about the Antarctic environment and helping them prepare mini science presentations about themselves and their work. Other faculty members onboard the ship specialize in leadership, strategy, personal well-being and visibility in STEMM fields.

Brooks, who joined the CU 麻豆影院 environmental studies faculty in 2017, has worked on Antarctic science and conservation for the last 15 years in varying roles ranging from marine science to outreach to policy. Along with other scientists and advocates, Brooks and her husband, John Weller, a photographer and filmmaker, helped to protect听, creating the world鈥檚 largest marine preserve in 2017.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been an essential part of my life for a long time, this profoundly beautiful place,鈥� Brooks said of Antarctica.听

With her interdisciplinary background, Brooks was drawn to CU 麻豆影院 by its multi-faceted environmental studies program after earning her doctorate from Stanford in 2017.

鈥淭he department is fantastic, they truly value interdisciplinary work and people who have blended backgrounds and can bring that diverse perspective to the world,鈥� she said.