The Pakistani-born "brown granny" – so nicknamed by the town folk – was just one of the many "strong women" in Dr Jamadar's family who went a lot further than "where they came from".

Yet, when the 34-year-old embarks on a voyage to Antarctica later this year, she is going where few have gone before.

In December, Dr Jamadar, from Monash University, will join 77 other women scientists from around the world on Homeward Bound's 20-day journey to the South Pole, focusing on leadership and climate change.

"I am really excited," she says. "Being in Antarctica ... for me it is the great unknown."

A brainchild of Australian leadership expert Fabian Dattner and Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas, a marine ecologist of the Australian Antarctic Division, Homeward Bound is a 10-year outreach initiative. It will connect 1000 women in science with an aim towards promoting a sustainable planet.

Funding for the project is being contributed by management and leadership consulting firm Dattner Grant, and each participant will foot $US15,000 ($19,650) towards their own costs. They will also make their own way to Ushuaia, Argentina, to board the ship.

It will also receive in-kind support from the University of Tasmania's Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies and the Australian Antarctic Division.

Ms Dattner describes the project as the start of a "global movement".

"It is about the collaboration of women with a focus on leadership for the greater good," she says.

"These are really, really capable women in our world, and I want to give them the chance to shape the world we need. That is afforded and has been afforded to dominantly men for a very long time."

Her sentiments are echoed by Dr Jamadar. The mother-of-one is excited about picking up crucial strategies to climb the academic career ladder, while helping other women do the same.

"I want to increase my own capacity to become a leader in my own field," Dr Jamadar says. "I am passionate not just about my own research, but I am also passionate about engaging younger people in research as well.

"I have been really fortunate to be in this position, and other women aren't."

Ballarat's Earth Sciences Centre, Earth Ed teacher Colleen Filippa says she also feels "very privileged" to be part of the maiden voyage.

Ms Filippa, who also runs a small green business, Fifteen Trees, helping corporate Australia erase their carbon footsteps, wants to attract more girls to science.

"There is a bit of disconnect between girls and science," she says. "My push when I come back is to get into the classroom to mentor young girls into choosing science [as a subject] ... [and] as a career path."

She also plans to start an interested group of primary and secondary "Polar Girls" who will connect with her on the Homeward Bound trip.

"I am hoping my experience will inspire women [into thinking], 'here's someone who is just a classroom teacher who has been able to go on this journey because of science'," Ms Filippa says.

"[And] that science can be exciting and there are so many opportunities."

For information or to donate to Colleen Filippa email at filippa@15trees.com.au or call 0400 040 659.