A group of female scientists have gone to the ends of the Earth to play their part in smashing the glass ceiling.

Seventy-six women, from all over the world, made up the largest all-female expedition to Antarctica, which doubled as a floating seminar aiming to get more women into science leadership roles.

The voyage in December was organised by a group called Homeward Bound that gathered together women who were already leaders in their own fields.

Half the day was spent undertaking leadership courses, with the other half taking in the sights. ( Supplied: Ida Kubiszewski )

Co-founder Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas said the current rate of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) was 60 per cent, but that number fell dramatically in higher positions.

She said half the voices were missing from the leadership table and those women who were in higher roles needed to be confident in their skills.

"There's more and more evidence that diversity, in all its senses, is really critical to us doing effective science, and science that can help us address the really pressing questions facing us at the global level," she said.

"The problem is not that women aren't engaged in science, it's the attrition rate as you move through from the junior positions to the senior positions."

Female scientists from all over the world took part in the Homeward Bound voyage to Antarctica. ( Supplied: Ida Kubiszewski )

On board the ship, the women spent half the day in courses focussed on leadership skills, visibility and strategy, before making landings on Antarctica to discover the continent's natural wonders.

"Most days there was a yoga or Pilates session happening outside on the deck, for those brave enough to do that, then we'd have breakfast and we'd go straight into the program," science program coordinator Dr Justine Shaw said.

"We're really trying to build a pool of women who are trained up in leadership and who've got an understanding of what leadership is, so they can forth into the world on a global or an international level."

The women saw icebergs 10 times the size of the ship as they moved through the Southern Ocean. ( Supplied: Ida Kubiszewski )

Fellow science program coordinator Dr Mary-Anne Lea said the women ranged in age between 25 and 65.

"That element was really important because we don't often get to spend time with women across all those age brackets focussing on similar issues," she said.

"That was definitely invaluable and very inspiring."

Participant Ida Kubiszewski said learning from the other women was the most valuable part of the trip.

"There were participants that were on the younger side - PhD students - and there were participants who were closer to the end of their careers," she said.

"It was an interesting dynamic of teaching each other as well as learning from the program."

The scientists saw Antarctica's wildlife and learnt about the issues facing the continent. ( Supplied: Ida Kubiszewski )

Associate Professor Kubiszewski said the environment itself was also jaw-dropping.

"We saw leopard seals, weddell seals and a few others crab eaters," she said.

"When you go on shore you're told not to approach penguins within five metres, but it's just not possible.

"You make some of these landings and there's a colony of 200,000 pairs on a relative small island.

"You can't move without there being a penguin around you... they just surround you. You just become part of their atmosphere."

People are meant to keep at least 5 metres away from penguins at all times. ( Supplied: Ida Kubiszewski )

Scientists 'not used to turning microscope inwards'

Environmental scientist Charlie Hindle said scientists were not very used to being introspective.

"It's an odd thing for scientists to dig deep into themselves, we usually have the microscope on other things and this was turning it around and putting it on yourself," she said.

"You can't change anything unless you've done that analysis, so that bit was quite confronting for some people I think, but definitely very worthwhile."

There are many different species of seals on Antarctica, including Leopard seals and Weddell seals. ( Supplied: Ida Kubiszewski )

Ms Hindle said the expedition had changed the path of her career.

"Scientists try to let the science speak for itself, but sometimes it doesn't," she said.

"So for me [Homeward Bound] has changed the direction I was heading.

"Now I want to do a masters degree into women as drivers of social change and how we can bridge the gap between climate change and social change."

For some participants the trip was life and career changing. ( Supplied: Ida Kubiszewski )

As the women move forward in their careers, they said they also turned back to each other for support.

"There's definitely a strong network that's ensued and that was obviously one of the hopes of the initiative," Dr Lea said.

"That this network of women, with similar skills and outlook, would become more connected now and into the future and that network would continue to grow."

Homeward Bound hopes 1,000 women will make the journey of discovery over the next decade.

Associate Professor Kubiszewski said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"I think Antarctica as a place had a huge impact on me," she said.

"It's amazing to see when your there that it has its own personality and in some ways it impacts you as a person. That personality does stick with you."