<p>In this special International Day of Women and Girls in STEM episode, host <strong>Kelly Shungu</strong> sits down with three extraordinary conservation scientists from the RSPB who are redefining what it means to do groundbreaking research in some of the world's most remote and challenging environments.</p><p><strong>Dr Antje Steinfurth</strong> is a penguinologist with over two decades of experience studying seabirds, leading the Gough Island Restoration Project — one of the world's most important seabird breeding site restorations — while working closely with island communities to protect critically endangered Northern Rockhopper penguins in the remote South Atlantic.</p><p><strong>Dr Louise Soanes</strong> is a Senior Conservation Scientist working across the Caribbean and UK Overseas Territories, where she balances biodiversity protection with climate-smart approaches on low-lying, hurricane-prone islands — navigating both environmental extremes and the challenges of being a woman in remote field environments.</p><p><strong>Dr Natasha Constant</strong> is a Principal Social Scientist specialising in the human dimensions of conservation across West Africa. She champions participatory methods and local knowledge systems,</p><p>If you've ever wondered what real conservation work looks like beyond the Instagram posts, or how women are leading global STEM research while breaking barriers in male-dominated fields, this conversation will open your eyes.</p><p><strong>We dive into:</strong></p><p>✨ What a day in the life of a conservation scientist actually looks like — from penguin colonies to tropical forests </p><p>✨ How these scientists balance rigorous research with climate change realities and community needs </p><p>✨ The unique challenges women face in remote fieldwork and male-dominated STEM environments </p><p>✨ Why local knowledge and participatory methods are essential to conservation success </p><p>✨ Real stories of conservation wins — from seabird restoration to climate-smart island protection </p><p>✨ How their work contributes to closing the gender gap and redefining STEM </p><p>✨ One action you can take this week to start or advance a career in STEM or conservation science</p><p>Whether you're considering a STEM career, passionate about conservation, or curious about what it takes to do world-changing research in the most challenging environments on Earth, this conversation will inspire you to think differently about both science and impact.</p><p><strong>Follow the Women in STEM Podcast:</strong></p><ul><li>Host LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ann-shungu/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ann-shungu/</a></li><li>Podcast LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-stem-podcast/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-stem-podcast/</a></li><li>All Links: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/womeninstem_podcast">https://linktr.ee/womeninstem_podcast</a></li><li>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/womeninstem_podcast/">https://www.instagram.com/womeninstem_podcast/</a></li></ul>