SUSAN BENGTSON NASH (dome FOUNDER)

Susan Bengtson Nash is a Professor of Planetary Health who has built her career around the detection of man-made chemicals in Antarctica, a region far isolated from industry. Further she has worked to uncover chemical behaviour in a rapidly changing polar climate, and identify their toxicological threat to vulnerable polar species.

A recurring finding in Susan’s research has been the unveiling of an ever-growing agrochemical foot-print at the poles of the Earth. These legacy, current, and emerging agro-chemicals have been transported to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean via environmental processes from the major agricultural centres of the southern hemisphere; namely South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Australia.

Susan is passionate about finding solutions to the global chemical pollution crisis through science, policy, and community engagement. She has led the development of the Antarctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AnMAP), a body that seeks to ensure sufficient and reliable chemical data from the Antarctic region in support of global chemical policy. She coordinates the Humpback Whale Sentinel Programme, a long-term biomonitoring programme for circum-polar surveillance of climate change and pollution of the Antarctic sea-ice ecosystem.

Susan established DOME (Daughters of Mother Earth) in recognition of the major shift in societal mindset and behaviour needed to heal the planet, and further, the role of our primary producers as stewards of Planetary Health. In acknowledgement of this critical role, DOME seeks to mobilise funding support towards Australian farmers transitioning to, or advancing, regenerative, organic and ethical practices.