South with the Seabirds

Enter Mary Gillham, Isobel Bennett, Hope Macpherson and Susan Ingham, four scientists who successfully petitioned to be the first women to join an Australian research expedition to Macquarie Island, a remote subantarctic island with a unique ecosystem.

Marine biologists Isobel and Hope explored the coast, finding chitons, sea stars and Giant kelp. Mary climbed cliffs to observe nesting seabirds like Black-browed albatrosses and White-headed petrels. Susan counted herds of Southern elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals.

When their research trip ended, the scientists returned home with their field notes to find that the media was more focussed on what they wore rather than the research they were there to undertake. Despite this, the scientists left an incredible legacy that led to efforts to remove invasive species from the island—and forged a new path for women in science.