This week's revolutionary is Jane Willenbring, geologist and cast member of the documentary Picture a Scientist. Her career has spanned from the South Pole to the North Pole, and she has risen to prominence for taking a stand against abuses of power in academia.
In our discussion we cover her beginnings in North Dakota, her first Antarctic expedition, how she continued to carve a path in academia after experiencing sexual harassment in the field, and why she finally came forward when she did. A significant portion of our conversation deals with abuse and sexual harassment, so please listen with care.
Some Questions I Ask:
What has transpired since the release of Picture a Scientist? (1:31)
Did your parents push you towards the hard sciences? (9:00)
Were your curiosity and your passion for science nurtured at North Dakota State University? (12:07)
What was the path that led you to Antarctica? (18:11)
What went down in Antarctica? (22:49)
What happened in the aftermath of the Antarctic expedition? (33:10)
Do you have advice for women dealing with workplace sexual harassment? (41:07)
Do you feel a sense of release about what happened now? (43:55)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
The path that led Jane (eventually) to geology (6:51)
How Jane became interested in Antarctica (14:10)
How the question of whether or not to report sexual harassment becomes complicated (20:13)
How sexual harassers find ways to not get caught (24:36)
How Jane ended up doing her PhD in Canada (37:18)
How Jane found the strength to stand up to her abuser (44:15)
Resources:
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