Climate change is having a devastating impact on the North and the South Pole – melting glaciers and endangering the local wildlife. Kim Chakanetsa meets two women who are monitoring these changes closely.  Hilde Fålun Strøm is an explorer and citizen scientist based in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town in the Norwegian arctic. Hilde and her expedition partner, Sunniva Sorby, run Hearts in the Ice, a project raising awareness about climate change. In 2020 they became the first women-only team to overwinter in the High Arctic, where they gathered data for climate change research.  Dr Irene Schloss is an Argentinian biologist based in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city. She is a principal investigator with the National Council of the Research of Argentina, for the Instituto Antártico Argentino and the Austral Center of Scientific Research. She holds a PhD in biological oceanography and for the past 25 years has been monitoring the impact of climate change on plankton and other marine life in Antarctica. Produced by Alice Gioia (Image: (L) Hilde Fålun Strøm, credit Catherine Lemblé. (R) Irene Schloss, credit Jeremías Di Pietro.)

Women at the Polar opposite

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two female neurosurgeons to hear about the pressures and rewards that come from working in their intense and male-dominated medical field.  Dr. Lola Chambless is an American neurosurgeon based in Nashville. She is passionate about medical education and serves as the Residency Program Director in Neurological Surgery.  Dr. Giselle Coelho is an award-winning paediatric neurosurgeon from Brazil who has a PhD from Harvard. She is currently the Scientific Director of the EDUCSIM Institute and works at Sabará Hospital. Produced by Emily Naylor (Image: (L) Dr. Lola Chambless, credit Vanderbilt University Medical Center. (R) Dr. Giselle Coelho, credit Trianon Clinic.)

Pioneering women in neurosurgery

A British explorer who transformed travel and travel writing and a Nigerian novelist and travel blogger talk to Ella Al-Shamahi about their adventures around the world. Hilary Bradt co-founded the world's largest independently owned guidebook publisher fifty years ago. She’s been inspiring travellers to go off the beaten track ever since, publishing guides to destinations where no guidebook previously existed, like Uganda, Yugoslavia, North Korea, Eritrea and Madagascar. Lola Akinmade Åkerström is a Nigerian travel storyteller, photographer, speaker and an international author whose books are published in 18 languages. She lives in Sweden, teaches travel writing and is the current editor-in-chief for Slow Travel Stockholm. Produced by Jane Thurlow (Image: (L) Lola Akinmade Åkerström, credit Jessica Wikström. (R) Hilary Bradt, credit Alex Graeme.)

Women writing about travel

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from Wales and Goa rescuing people in trouble on the coast.
 
Vivienne Grey was one of the first women to become a crewmember at Little and Broad Haven RNLI in Wales when she started as a volunteer in 1990. She's been involved in more than 120 ‘shouts’ on the lifeboat and is credited directly for saving the lives of eight people. She’s now training coordinator at the lifeboat station and works part-time as a teacher. Vivienne also volunteers with the local Coastguard Rescue Team.
 
Ananyaa Bath is a lifeguard and lifeguard trainer in India. She works for Drishti Marine, a safety and life-saving service, which has 400 life-savers patrolling Goa's 103km coastline. Produced by Jane Thurlow (Image: (L) Vivienne Grey, credit RNLI. (R) Ananyaa Bath, credit Drishti Marine.)

Women saving lives at sea

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women tackling negative or ageist attitudes towards older people around the world.
 
Alana Officer is leading the World Health Organization Decade of Ageing Well. With a background in podiatric medicine, exercise and public health she's worked on health, disability, rehabilitation and development in West and Central Africa, Europe, South Asia, the Middle East and the Western Pacific.
 
Lina Walker is Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership for AARP. (AARP was formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.) Her aim is to improve opportunities for increased longevity with healthier, financially resilient, and connected lives. An economist, Dr Walker also co-leads AARP’s health care strategy on advocacy, policy, education, and outreach.  Produced by Jane Thurlow (Image: (L) Lina Walker, credit AARP. (R) Alana Officer, courtesy Alana Officer.)

Women confronting ageism

What's it like to compete for life-changing amounts of money on national television while cut off from the outside world? Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women who’ve taken part in TV show competitions to find out what happens on and off the camera. Alex Duggan was the winner of the first season on The Traitors Australia - a show all about lying and deception. She ended up in one of the most dramatic finals ever seen on the show. After winning Alex experienced trolling on social media due to her sexuality and betrayal of her fellow castmates during the competition. Lída Puldová from the Czech Republic signed up for the TV show Survivor assuming it would be a chance for her to explore her adventurous side. She was the oldest contestant on the series. The reality of the show starkly contrasted with Lída's expectations, leading her to regret her decision to participate. Produced by Emily Naylor (Image: (L) Lída Puldová, TV Nova. (R) Alex Duggan, credit Channel Ten.)

Women at the Polar opposite

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