Since we became a global partner seven years ago, we have involved 724 women in the program.
Homeward Bound's goal is to create an international network of 10,000 professional women working in different STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) areas within fourteen years, to collaborate on projects in diverse scientific and geographic areas, thus giving visibility to women in science so that they can be the leaders who impact their communities and have a say in solving challenges such as the climate emergency.
The one-year program includes training in leadership, strategy, communication and visibility based on a personal development assessment working with specialized mentors.
Homeward Bound also promotes the generation of networks among the participants of each of the editions, in order to establish personal and professional ties that enrich teamwork and generate new proposals to implement the leadership tools acquired during the program.
The culmination of the exchange of information, conclusions, projects and challenges will take place during the three-week trip to the Antarctic Peninsula, during which the expedition will visit various scientific bases to gather information on the impact of climate change on the white continent, a thermometer of how global warming is affecting the Earth.
Homeward Bound is launching a new edition of its expedition to Antarctica, in which 116 women from 22 countries will explore the frozen continent. This scientific and informative trip will depart from Ushuaia (Argentina) on January 28th 2025.
The female scientists, mathematicians, researchers, engineers and other professionals took the opportunity to collaborate for three weeks and forge connections that will strengthen their leadership skills.
Homemeward Bound has been chosen as the recipient of the 4th Malaspina Award in recognition of its global work in promoting women's leadership capacity in STEMM.
The Malaspina Award is an honor bestowed by the Spanish Embassy in Canberra and the Spanish Researchers Association in Australia-Pacific (SRAP). Awarded annually to individuals and organizations that, through their work, make a significant contribution to scientific or cultural relations between Australia and Spain, in 2021 it was awarded to the Homeward Bound program.
Besides Malaspina, the Gold Medal of the Red Cross 2018 was awarded to Ana Payo-Payo, Alicia Pérez Porro, Uxua López and Alexandra Dubini, Spanish ACCIONA participants in the Australian initiative, for their contribution to science, feminism and the environment. The medal was awarded by Her Majesty Queen Letizia.
THE DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Javier Santaolalla, particle physicist and science communicator, talks with some of the Homeward Bound participants to explain what the program is about and what the final expedition is like: a trip to Antarctica to observe the effects of climate change.
COVID-19 MAKES US REINVENT OURSELVES
COVID-19 meant that the HB05 expedition to Antarctica was cancelled and a digital format had to be adopted instead.
To give a voice to the new participants, we created Multicast Live events on ACCIONA's social networks, with HB participants from our key markets alongside influencers such as Javier Santaolalla, Amaro and Karla Souza.
We also produced an eight-episode documentary series on the training programme.
A YEAR MARKED BY THE COP25 WORLD CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
A special year. It coincided with the COP25 World Climate Change Conference, for which we organised two important events in Madrid and Chile. The latter was presented to the media at an event moderated by Amaro Gómez.
The HB04 participants were able to complete all of the annual training, but when COVID-19 struck, the Antarctic expedition had to be cancelled.
WE BECAME A GLOBAL PARTNER OF HOMEWARD BOUND
We supported the expedition of 80 women scientists from 35 countries to Antarctica, including Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and member of ACCIONA's Board of Directors. Before embarking from Ushuaia (Argentina) on December 31, 2018, the participants of HB03 (third edition of the program) were immersed in a research and training program.
WE JOINED THE HOMEWARD BOUND PROJECT INITIATIVE THROUGH THE #ACCIONATEAM.
Joining our commitment to environmental protection and the promotion of female talent in the fields of science and technology, we embarked with Uxua López, Alicia Pérez-Porro, Ana Payo and Alexandra Dubini to learn about the day to day of an adventure for the preservation of the planet.
Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and ACCIONA Board Member
Joaquin Mollinedo, ACCIONA's General Manager of Institutional Relations, Sustainability and Branding
Alicia Pérez-Porro, portavoz del #Accionateam
We join the members of the Homeward Bound expedition on their latest journey to Antarctica, a voyage that heralds the rise of a new generation of women from various nationalities, dedicated to advocating for a sustainable and equitable world through the power of women's leadership.