Celebrating the work of women in science for IWD
By Sonia Isaacs
A GROUP of aspiring young scientists had the opportunity to work alongside one of Australia’s leading marine mammal experts, Dr Alexis Levengood (pictured), during Mooloolah River Landcare’s (MRL) recent Girls in the Wild field excursion week.
Dr Levengood, a Research Fellow and Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), led MRL’s dolphin research activity alongside PhD student Georgina Hume. With more than 15 years of experience studying marine mammals across six countries, Dr Levengood is renowned for her work on dolphin behaviour, genetics, acoustics, health, and conservation.
Dr Levengood said she was immensely excited to be involved in the MRL program. “I fell in love with science through these kinds of hands-on education and outreach activities when I was younger,” Dr Levengood said.
“I know firsthand the power behind these programs and the lasting impression they can have.
“It’s critical for girls to see women in these roles, doing incredibly interesting, field-based, scientific research and making a change for their communities, the animals they work with, and the future of our environments.”
MRL Project Coordinator Jessica Raintree praised Dr Levengood’s involvement, highlighting the impact of her mentorship on the next generation of marine scientists. “It was wonderful to have Dr Levengood run our dolphin research field activity and inspire young scientists,” Ms Raintree said.
“We were so fortunate to have a groundbreaking environmental scientist guiding our young women in the field. Dr Levengood is both an inspiring leader and an amazing mentor.”
Reflecting on the theme of International Women’s Day, Dr Levengood acknowledged that challenges still existed for women in the scientific field. “Being a woman is not always easy, especially in a field where the top positions are still largely dominated by males. It can be challenging, and you can face resistance from all angles at times,” she said.
“I have definitely faced my share of challenges, including having people speak to my male student standing directly next to me assuming they were in charge, not me.
“Sometimes these moments are frustrating, but I also love a challenge and look at these as little opportunities to showcase what women can do.”
Encouraging more women to explore STEM pathways, Dr Levengood said “the more girls and women we can get into STEM, the better STEM will be.”
