INTERVIEW | Naomi Harada: First Female Leader Gears Up for Antarctic Expedition

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Geoscientist Naomi Harada will lead Japan's 66th Antarctic research expedition. Harada is a professor at the Center for International Collaboration at the University of Tokyo's Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute. Her team is set to depart this December. Harada will be the first female leader in the history of Japan's Antarctic expeditions.

Antarctic ice is melting at an alarming rate, with some experts warning that we could reach an irreversible tipping point by the middle of this century. However, limited observational data makes precise predictions difficult. This uncertainty places Japan's Antarctic research team — renowned for their expertise in navigating icy waters to the edges of massive glaciers — in the global spotlight. Harada spoke with The Sankei Shimbun and Japan 2 Earth about her determination as she prepares for this crucial mission.

Excerpts follow.

Studying the Earth

What changes have you observed in the representation of women in this field?

This will be my third time joining the Antarctic expedition. My first was in 1991 with the 33rd expedition. At the time, I was a graduate student at Nagoya University and "the second female member of the Japanese team." My second expedition was in 2018 with the 60th team, where I served as "the first female deputy chief and summer team leader." I've often felt like I was in the media spotlight. Now, with 25% of the 66th expedition team being women, it truly feels like we are in a new era.

What specific observations does your team plan to make regarding the melting ice?

Antarctic ice is melting at an alarming rate. There are several "hotspots" around the continent where the melting of specific ice masses could release vast amounts of ice into the ocean. One of the most critical is Totten Glacier, which contains enough ice to raise global sea levels by about four meters if it fully melts.

Snowfall in Antarctica gradually compresses into ice, which slowly moves toward the coast. As glaciers reach the coastline, they push out over the ocean, forming floating ice shelves. At the edge of Totten Glacier, warm seawater is flowing beneath the ice shelf, leading to large-scale collapses. Japan's Antarctic Research Team is focused on detecting early signs of these collapses.

What drew you to the world of geoscience?

In high school, I wasn't particularly drawn to science, but Hirosaki University's Department of Global Science caught my attention. Our high school curriculum covered physics, chemistry, biology, and geology, but Earth science didn't quite fit into any of those categories. 

That made it especially intriguing to me. Around that time, Earth science was gaining public interest, thanks to magazines like Newton and NHK's Miracle Planet. At university, I focused my research on radioactive substances in the atmosphere.

Any special memories from college?

Apart from my studies, one of my most unforgettable college memories was the cherry blossoms. The sakura at Hirosaki Castle was absolutely breathtaking — the best in Japan, in my opinion. Since the campus was close to the castle, I'd often ride my bike there during sakura season to enjoy the blossoms whenever I had free time. Even now, I still feel the urge to visit.

What motivated you to pursue a doctoral program?

In graduate school, I researched seafloor sediments, focusing on reconstructing and analyzing past marine environments. After completing my degree, I initially planned to work in the private sector. However, after accepting a job offer, I participated in a research expedition where I collected seafloor sediment samples. That experience made me realize I wanted to analyze the samples myself. As a result, I turned down the job and decided to continue into a doctoral program.

The lab I worked in specialized in biogeochemistry. We used a sediment trap mooring system to collect large particles from the ocean, known as marine snow. Using data from these particles, we researched the carbon cycle and its broader impact.

Past Antarctic Expeditions

How did your early Antarctic expeditions shape your goals for your current research project?

During my first year in the doctoral program, our lab received a request for someone to join the Antarctic expedition. After learning that all the male students had declined, I convinced my advisor to let me go, and I was eventually accepted onto the team. 

My first experience in the polar regions wasn't without its challenges — one of the biggest being our failure to recover a crucial sediment trap mooring system we had deployed in the Southern Ocean.

For the 60th expedition, I was appointed deputy chief and summer team leader. My primary focus was coordinating research activities and managing the transport of supplies. However, once on site, my desire to conduct my own research grew stronger. I thought, "If I ever get another chance, I want to focus on my own projects."

This time, my goal is to investigate the rapid environmental changes occurring in Antarctica. Specifically, I'll focus on large particles in seawater to better understand the evolving carbon cycle, which is closely linked to climate change. I'll be using the sediment trap mooring system — unfinished business from the 33rd expedition and, in a way, my own "homework."

Raising Awareness

How do you believe your role can influence public awareness of climate change?

Opportunities for the public to learn about the current state of Antarctica or the work of expedition teams are rare. However, if the news about me as the "first female chief" draws attention, it could also help spotlight the urgency of climate change and the importance of these observations. 

The dramatic environmental changes happening in the polar regions are directly connected to Japan as well. I hope more people begin to see this planetary crisis as something that affects them personally.

The real challenge is communicating this to people who haven't been exposed to much information about environmental issues. This time, we're even being featured in fashion magazines, which is a unique opportunity to reach new audiences. I hope it encourages those who've never thought much about the environment to start reflecting on these critical issues.

When I give interviews, I always make a point of sharing my age. In the past, Antarctic expedition members were typically seen as young, strong men, but that has changed in recent years. It's now common to see senior women on the team. By highlighting this, I hope to inspire more people to pursue opportunities in Antarctica.

How will Japanese technology, like the Shirase icebreaker, help your expedition?

At Totten Glacier in Antarctica, massive ice shelves are beginning to melt and collapse due to warm seawater. It was the Japanese expedition that first discovered this, and we have been conducting focused observations ever since. 

Currently, sea levels around Japan are rising by about 3.5 millimeters per year. If Totten Glacier and the surrounding ice were to fully melt, global sea levels could rise by an astonishing four meters. The area has also seen a significant increase in icebergs, likely formed from collapsing ice shelves.

To gather data on early signs of a large-scale collapse at Totten Glacier, we need to break through sea ice and reach the edge of the ice shelf. Only Japan, with its unmatched icebreaker, Shirase, is capable of accomplishing this.

Leading the Expedition

What specific goals do you have for the upcoming expedition?

On our upcoming expedition, we'll conduct detailed observations using a CTD water sampler equipped with sensors to measure water temperature and salinity, and collect seawater samples. We'll repeat this process while moving the Shirase, gathering both water samples and data simultaneously. This will allow us to study the amount of heat transferred from the ocean and the extent of seawater desalination.

Ocean acidification caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) is another concern, so we'll also be using CO2 sensors. In the polar regions, where air and water temperatures are lower, CO2 dissolves more easily into seawater, accelerating acidification. Our observations near Totten Glacier will be comprehensive, covering not only physical aspects but also chemical and biological ones.

What exactly is happening at the southernmost part of the Earth? If we don't start our observations soon, the rate of change will only accelerate. I believe my expertise in oceanography is one reason I was chosen as the expedition leader this time.

What is your goal as a leader?

This will probably be my last trip to Antarctica, so I want to make the most of each day and take in every moment — the sights, sounds, and vast landscapes. I'm not sure how much I'll accomplish, but I want to return with these experiences deeply etched in my memory.

As the leader, my goal is for every team member to achieve 100% success in their work. However, given the unpredictable forces of Antarctica's nature, things won't always go as planned. In reality, the goal is "how close we can get to 100%." The team has spent years preparing for this, and I want to support them as much as I can.

I'm not the type of leader who takes charge and pushes people forward. If a team member faces a challenge, I want to address it early, before it grows into a bigger problem. By staying in close communication with the team, I aim to ensure the success of the expedition.

About Naomi Harada

Born in 1967 in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Harada graduated from Hirosaki University's Faculty of Science and earned her PhD in Science from Nagoya University's Graduate School. She specializes in biogeochemistry and paleoceanography. Japan's Antarctic research teams have several leadership roles: the expedition chief, the summer team leader, who oversees research during the Antarctic summer, and the winter team leader, who manages the team staying in Antarctica for over a year. For the 66th expedition, Harada will serve as both the expedition chief and the summer team leader. The team is scheduled to depart this December and return to Japan in April of next year.

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Interview by: Nobuo Serizawa

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