Celebrating women in science

From the scientists to our staff, there are so many impressive women who contribute to New Zealand's Antarctic research programme.

A few notable wahine paved the way, and their achievements are recognised at Scott Base with science laboratories in the Hillary Field Centre named after them. There’s no better time to reminisce on their achievements than on International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

There was a time, and not all that long ago, where women weren't allowed at New Zealand's polar outpost. That wasn't due to any domestic policy, but a ban on women travelling to Antarctica imposed by the United States Defence Force.

When selected to go to the ice in June 1969, Pamela Young (left) was described as "first lady for Scott Base".

Young wasn't the first Kiwi woman to set foot on the frozen continent - Canterbury Museum marine zoologist Marie Darby got to Antarctica as a staffer on a tourist ship in 1969 - but she was the first to live and work there.

Young's role was a field assistant to her husband Euan, a biologist, during an expedition to Cape Bird at the north end of Ross Island.

The couple spent 10 weeks living and working at the cape with a small team, before making a final penguin count in January 1970 and heading back to Scott Base.

Young was among the first women to set foot at the South Pole - six women flew to the pole together and linked arms as they walked down the cargo ramp, stepping on to the snow in unison.

The first woman to winter at Scott Base was Thelma Rodgers (below) in 1979. As science technician, Thelma looked after ongoing experiments at the base and Arrival Heights.

"It was hard going, but I was just fascinated with the landscape, it really enthralled me," she said.

"They thought I was a feminist, but I wasn’t a feminist at all… I just liked wearing trousers!"

Geologist Margaret Bradshaw’s career as an Antarctic researcher started with a simple request that she “go down and get some rocks” for the Canterbury Museum’s new Antarctic Hall. It was 1975 and Bradshaw was curator of geology at the museum.

“I was asked to put on a geological exhibit for the new Antarctic Hall but when I looked in the collection, I couldn’t find any rocks. So I suggested the easiest thing to do would be to go down and get some,” she remembered.

She has a landmark named in her honour – Bradshaw Peak. She was the second woman ever to receive a Queen’s Polar medal.

“Antarctica has been a very important part of my life,” she said. “It’s a magic place to work, especially with deep field parties, where people are highly dependent on each other.”

On her first trip to the ice, Margaret remembers a resident male’s shock at seeing her and a fellow female scientist.

“We’ve come down here to get away from people like you!” he exclaimed. But Margaret adds that attitudes changed towards women on base and, in the end, men were quick to accept “people like them”.

Three laboratories at Scott Base are named after these pioneering women who played significant roles within our science programme around this time. The labs are, after all, part of the Hillary Field Centre; Sir Edmund wasn’t one to be constrained by the rules and decisions set by others.

Pamela, Thelma and Margaret have been followed by a large number of women who continue to make important scientific advancements and inspire young scientists around the globe.