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Women In Polar Science

Ing. Milena Massari, PhD

Italian Antarctic Program (PNRA)

Milena, in red and black polar gear, lies on top of a frozen Enigma Lake, Blister on Enigma Lake. Enigma lake is small lake (1000m x 450m) in the northern foothills between Boulderclay Glacier and Gerlache Inlet. Altitude 174m, permanent ice covering, located 5km E of Mt Abbott and 3.5km SW of Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS).

Milena, in red and black polar gear, lies on top of a frozen Enigma Lake, Blister on Enigma Lake. Enigma lake is small lake (1000m x 450m) in the northern foothills between Boulderclay Glacier and Gerlache Inlet. Altitude 174m, permanent ice covering, located 5km E of Mt Abbott and 3.5km SW of Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS).

What’s the work that you do?

I am a structural engineer working for the logistics section of ENEA-UTA, which is a part of the National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA). My contribution to the actuation of the Antarctic campaign involves different aspects: from the management of moving personnel and materials around the globe, over to the handling of Antarctic clothing warehouses (Italy and NZ), supervising contracts for provisions and/or services, to the organization of PNRA training/safety/team building courses for Antarctic ‘newcomers’ before the start of the Campaign and much more. Probably easiest to say: I do everything that is needed to make it work well for good science in Antarctica 🙂

What keeps you going?

I like doing my best to make things happen. Even more than that, I love discovering new horizons and people. I want to believe that research could make a difference for everyone’s future, that we are chasing knowledge for better answers and solutions. We have not ventured on the right path lately, it is time to change consciously, each of us can be part of it.

What’s your message to the world?

Using Bob Marley’s words: ‘Get up, stand up/Stand up for your right/Get up, stand up/ Don’t give up the fight!’ 360° meaning, always gently, that’s the real revolution.

Organisation: Italian Antarctic Program (PNRA)

Nationality: Italy Italy

Disciplines:

Logistics mangement for Italy’s Antarctic Campaign

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We are grateful to The Ocean Foundation for acting as our fiscal sponsor in the US, the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation for sponsoring this project, and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) for supporting us.