A METEOROLOGIST is off on the adventure of a lifetime - in a major scientific expedition to the frozen wastes of Antarctica.

Alison Davies is one of 77 female scientists from across the globe taking part in the Australian-led Homeward Bound Project.

The 24-year-old is based at RAF Leeming, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, as an operational meteorologist and has worked at the station’s Met Office for the last eight months.

The Homeward Bound Project is an initiative with the vision of increasing women scientists at the leadership table.

The expedition, which involves 20 days at sea, is the finale of a year-long program focused on the leadership, strategic planning and scientific capabilities required to contribute to an ever–changing planet.

Throughout the expedition, which departs from Ushuaia in Argentina on December 2, the team will explore and observe the effects of climate change across the Antarctic Peninsula whilst building strong bonds with like–minded women scientists from around the world.

Participants include scientists from various backgrounds including; astronomers, engineers, physicists, doctors and Antarctic specialists.

Alison, originally from Glasgow, said: “Everyone taking part is quite dispersed, so it has been quite hard to actually physically meet up.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of them on Skype and during monthly conference calls, but it will be really great to actually meet them.”

She added: “Everyone taking part does a huge range of science research and there’s a huge variety of people.

“Some are professors and I am one of youngest people going – at the beginning of my career – so it’s quite a diverse group of women. It will be extremely interesting to see what they’re up to.”

Alison, who is also about to start training for a role in the Mobile Meteorological Unit – a sponsored Reserve Unit of the Royal Air Force – became interested in the project after seeing an advertisement online.

“You see a lot of projects promoting women in science, but this one looked like it was doing some really good work, with a good vision,” she said.

“There’s also the plus side of getting to visit Antarctica, somewhere I have wanted to go since I was a kid.”