Women at British Antarctic Survey

The Women @ BAS group provides an informal and supportive forum for women to discuss gender-specific issues that relate to their own personal and professional development within the organisation.

Outcomes from discussions will inform the development of BAS corporate aspirations for:

• Equality and Diversity in the workplace, including Athena SWAN
• Promoting a positive working environment
• Enabling personal and professional development
• Public engagement in research: inspiring females to pursue STEM subjects

Dr Sophie Fielding, who leads research cruises in the Southern Ocean and was recently awarded a polar medal.

The scope covers a broad range of discussion topics focussed specifically at how BAS applies its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy initiatives to enable female talent to thrive in the workplace. It is a place to share experience and best practice; to identify women-focused learning and development activities; and to identify opportunities to drive coherence and connections between corporate, internal, local and national policy/programmes for women in STEM. The forum contributes suggestions for speakers to be invited to a BAS-wide programme of inspirational lunch-time ‘Career Journeys’ seminar series, and organises viewings of relevant TED talks. Discussion topics include how BAS women can contribute to the national need to inspire young people in STEM.