Meet Polar Change Maker Kimberly Aiken

What does it take to encourage young women and people of color to enter polar careers? On this episode of the Adventures in Learning Podcast, we meet Kimberly Aiken, a PhD student at the University of Tasmania, Australia, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Kimberly is currently undertaking a research project focused on building more diverse, equitable, and inclusive extreme and remote workforce environments. She has contributed to several outreach and advocacy platforms and currently co-leads the Diversity and Inclusion Community Practice Group with the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC). In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, we explore challenges and joys of being a person of color in polar STEM, skills and ideas necessary for engaging students, classrooms, and families in the polar regions, strategies for holding up diverse role models for children interested in STEM careers, and, of course, the mighty krill.1:30: Kimberly's untraditional pathway into Polar STEM/STEAM22:43: Carrying the weight of being a person of color in the polar world24:34 Covid and new directions27:33 Antarctic/Southern Ocean Coalition31:00 PhD work37:52 Intersectionality and polar work41:45: Impact of mental health and well-being on researchSponsor Ad46:16: Preparing children, teachers, and families for jobs that don't exist yet in a world of climate change54:35: Building strong 21st century learning skills56:32: Polar STEAM program and other resources for educators1:01:04: Real world examples of building Polar connections in classrooms1:05:01: Intersectionality and offering kids diverse role models in polar jobs1:08:48: Strategies and ideas to help educators and families get started in polar protection and climate change learning1:16:01: Coolest polar experience to date1:18:20: Hope in a changing world1:23:01: Tale of the mighty krillSupport the showShare this episodeIf this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friendStay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.