As a nine-year-old living in the Melbourne suburb of Croydon, Tracey Gray dreamed of visiting Antarctica and begged her mum to buy her books about the continent.
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Three decades later, the Port Fairy science teacher is one of 78 women chosen worldwide, to travel to Antarctica for a science education program in December.
Mrs Gray is looking forward to the crunch of the ice underfoot, seeing Arctic birds, marine mammals and climate work, particularly climate data around melting ice sheets.
“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity,” Mrs Gray said.
The Homeward Bound education program will include climate, biological and earth system research.
The facilitators chose to study Antarctica because it is among the fastest climate change responses seen anywhere on the planet.
“It’s such a vast continent and is undergoing some of the biggest changes. As an ecosystem itself, we know there’s less sea ice. Long-term research shows that ice is receding due to warmer sea currents.
“The carbon cycle plays a part in this process. Our everyday actions impact on climate and Antarctic ecosystem are an indicator of change.
“The scientific research is going to be amazing,” she said.
Participants will undergo leadership training and complete polar science education to learn what is happening to the planet.
The group sets sail from Ushuaia, Argentina for the 20-day study, led by Greg Mortimer OAM.
Field experts Dr Susan David, Kit Jackson and Fabian Dattner will deliver 12 days of leadership and strategic planning training.
The women will hear from leading Australian academics about the latest research about the state and functioning of the planet.
“I’m excited. It’s great. I feel incredibly fortunate and lucky, but behind that does come a bit of hard work and a life journey.
“It’s combining all those things. You don’t just leave it to luck, you make it happen in some way,” she said.
As part of the school’s Oceania theme, Mrs Gray plans to take her Port Fairy Consolidated School “on a pre-journey”, focusing on Antarctica in the classroom.
Mrs Gray is looking forward to sharing her experiences and opening up conversations with her students once she returns.
“I want the kids to go on it as part of the journey too.”
Mrs Gray also wants to develop educational resources about Antarctica, to share with other primary schools and mentor teenage science students in the region.
