Homeward Bound is a pioneering global initiative designed to support and engage a diverse network of women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) to lead collaboratively and advocate for the sustainability of the planet.
The initiative seeks to amplify the influence and impact of women with scientific expertise, aiming to shape policy and decision-making processes that affect the future of the Earth. By empowering women in STEMM, Homeward Bound emphasizes the importance of their voices in addressing global sustainability challenges.
Since its launch in 2016, Homeward Bound has brought together the first 76 of an envisioned 1,000 women from across the globe, all with critical science backgrounds, to participate in a year-long, cutting-edge leadership program. The program is designed to enhance leadership and strategic skills, encouraging participants to use science to advocate for meaningful change. The inaugural cohort culminated in the largest-ever female expedition to Antarctica in December 2016, focusing on women's leadership and the state of the planet.
Subsequent programs have continued with expeditions in Antarctica, with the second concluding in March 2018, the third in January 2019, and the fourth in November 2019. Two additional voyages to Antarctica are planned for November 2023, continuing the initiative’s mission of fostering female leadership in the sciences.