Hi friends –
[Who am I?]
My name is Kirsten Holston, and I am a civil engineer in the renewable energy sector. And I’ve received the great honor of being accepted into the Homeward Bound Global Leadership Program for Women in STEMM. As a member of the Homeward Bound Cohort 8 (HB8), I have the incredible opportunity to travel to Antarctica in January 2025 on a voyage that will bring together program participants from around the world (17+ countries!) to address broader sustainability initiatives.
A little about my background in sustainability: as an engineer in renewable energy, I work to develop, design, and construct solar, wind, and battery storage projects. My passion for the renewable energy field comes from my belief that one of the first steps to a sustainable future is how we get our energy.
[Climate Change and Energy]
Climate change is one of the most critical challenges that this generation is facing. The continued use of fossil fuels is destroying habitats, melting glaciers, poisoning waterways, and sickening our communities. Renewable energy– the process of converting the energy already present around us, provides a solution to the extensive use of fossil fuels. Those who work in the renewable sector produce energy from the sun, wind, water, and earth beneath us to ensure a sustainable future for all.
“Mother Nature needs her daughters.”
Women are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) and often lack leadership opportunities due to systemic barriers. Science has been the engine of much of human progress, but that same innovation must also be used to address the most pressing consequences of human progress. Having groups that are typically marginalized, like women, leading in this context is crucial to delivering balanced and equitable long-term solutions.
[Homeward Bound and My Journey]
My passion for sustainable development has led me to the Homeward Bound Global Leadership Program. The Homeward Bound program was founded to tackle the world's most significant challenges and to create a global network of women and femmes in STEMM.
Homeward Bound seeks to disrupt the status quo and change the current leadership model. The program provides women in STEMM the resources, networks, and training to lead for the greater good. As part of a broader global leadership cohort, we seek to use our skills to lead with inclusion, collaboration, legacy, and trust in mind.
Having worked through the year-long program, I have become a more well-rounded leader, community member, and intersectional environmentalist. The individuals that comprise this cohort have inspired me to strive further and reach higher within my industry, renewable energy engineering, and my community in Chicago, Illinois.
[Why Antarctica and What We Can Achieve Together]
The culmination of my time with these amazing women and mentors is a voyage across land and sea to Antarctica!
Perhaps you are wondering, why Antarctica? Isn’t it cold? Yes, it is. But Antarctica is one of the regions showing the fastest reactions to climate change inaction. The region provides an unparalleled opportunity to see how human activity has affected the environment and provides pivotal insights on the large-scale change required to mitigate even more disastrous effects of climate change. This voyage is meant to be an opportunity to delve deep into how everyone must work together to be the positive change that we want to see in the world.
The expedition includes workshops, additional courses, landings at different research stations, and lectures. All with the aim of further facilitating a network of individuals with the skill set to better address climate change in all facets of academia and industry. Or as my company Acciona Energy says, “Business as Unusual”. Acciona Energy USA has agreed to help make my Antarctica expedition possible by matching all the funds I raise toward my $16,700 expedition expense.
You can make your donation here, toward my leadership expedition.
With a donation to my Antarctica Voyage fundraiser, you can be a part of helping me achieve that goal and inspiring other women to apply to Homeward Bound or other STEMM programs.
[Follow my journey]
Thank you so much for your donation! Please share and follow my journey once we set sail! I’ll be sharing my experience on Instagram @kirstenhb8.
For additional links check out –
- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kh01/
- HB8 Bio: https://homewardboundprojects.com.au/profile/kirsten-holston/
- The Homeward Bound program: https://homewardboundprojects.com.au/
