Meet the dynamic force behind globally inclusive geoscience
Heather poses in front of Ruapehu (background), Ngāuruhoe (middle ground), and Red Crater (foreground) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Image: A/Prof Heather Handley
Today for International Day of Women and Girls in Science we celebrate a globally esteemed geoscientist in our midst, Associate Professor Heather Handley. Investigating volcanoes, fighting for gender equity in geoscience, designing a film festival and writing a book are all in a day’s work for Heather. Here we explore Heather’s passions for science, communication and representation.
Hi Heather, your scientific, advocacy and communications repertoire is vast! Can you share a few career highlights that might inspire emerging women in geoscience?
One of the things I’m most proud of is Co-Founding and leading the Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences in Australasia network (WOMEESA) through its first few years, from an initial idea back in 2017 to an international network of over 700 people.
We use our collective voice to raise awareness of the challenges and solutions surrounding gender inequity in geosciences in the region, create women role models and provide a supportive network.
My most exciting current personal project combines my obsession with volcanoes and my love of communicating science. I’m writing a popular science and history book on Australia’s volcanoes, which I hope to finish writing this year.
“I can’t wait to share how volcanoes have played such an extraordinary role in Australia’s past and present human story.”
Recent films like The Leadership and Picture A Scientist, together with Rio Tinto’s independent review into its company culture, highlight the alarming ways that gender inequity plays out every day in science, including geoscience. How can the Australian geoscience community members help to reduce structural barriers to gender equity?
“Systemic change is needed to build fairer workplaces by focusing on institutional change rather than a ‘fix the women’ approach. Paths to equity and equality for everyone start with leadership's commitment to change. For example, to reduce bias in systems around hiring, awarding grants, and promotions, which will also help increase diversity for other underrepresented groups.”
“Everyone can do their bit to reduce gender inequity and make geoscience in Australia more inclusive by helping to increase the visibility of women, create women role models, nominate women for awards, call out casual sexism and harassment, undertake unconscious bias training and design more inclusive field trips with a clear code of conduct.”
WATCH: The Leadership and Picture A Scientist, two films that premiered in 2020 that show the pervasiveness of gender inequity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workplaces.
What are you most looking forward to in 2022?
“This year, I can’t wait for the inaugural Earth Futures Festival. It’s an international film and video festival that aims to address current perceptions of geoscience by showcasing the critical role that geoscience plays in society and sustainable development.”
The festival runs in September and October online and involves in-person events in New York, Paris and Sydney. Submissions are open until 15th May. We have categories and awards for geoscientists, university students, primary and high school students, community groups, Indigenous and First Nations peoples, women in geoscience and more. The Earth Futures Festival organisers look forward to your entry!
WATCH: The Earth Futures Festival is an international film and video event showcasing the important role geoscience plays in tackling our most pressing global challenges; climate change, the management of our natural resources (water, minerals, energy, soils), transitions to cleaner energy, mitigation of the risks from natural hazards and building sustainable cities. Video (and caption): Earth Futures Festival
AUTHORS
An interview between A/Prof Heather Handley and Philomena Manifold
FURTHER READING
WOMEESA
Earth Futures Festival