Joanna Young

Glaciologist, Co-Founder Girls on Ice Alaska

pronouns: she/her/hers

I became involved with Girls on Ice in 2011, when I was a coordinator for the Washington program and got to spend time on the beautiful Mount Baker. I was so inspired by the idea of learning in such a spectacular setting, by the program philosophy, and by its amazing participants that, together with two others, we launched the second Inspiring Girls Expedition program - Girls on Ice Alaska - in 2012. I have been deeply involved in Inspiring Girls Expedition and its growth as a lead instructor ever since, so I can carry out one of my biggest personal goals of providing young womxn with encouragement and support in learning how powerful they can be.

I bring to Inspiring Girls Expedition a mixed background in science and the humanities, which I think provides a unique lens to how I see the natural world, as well as the role of science in our global community. Currently, I am a PhD candidate in Geophysics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where I study the beautiful glaciers of Alaska to determine how quickly they are shrinking in climate change. I am also involved in environmental education research, and have studied astrophysics and philosophy of science in the past.

I am passionate about science communication, and have been in documentary films like the German ‘Abenteuer Alaska’ and National Geographic IMAX’s movie ‘Extreme Weather.’ In Dec. 2016, I visited Antarctica, as one of 78 global womxn scientists selected for the first ‘Homeward Bound’ leadership program. When I am not exploring topics in science, education, and leadership, I can be found exploring the mountains of Alaska, ideally on a pair of skis.

Girls on Ice Cascades Onsite Coordinator 2011

Girls on Ice Alaska Co-Founder; Instructor 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

Steering Committee Member 2017, 2018, 2019