Dr Penny Whetton's Summer Jam

This jam honours Dr Penny Whetton – a pioneering Australian climate scientist, a trans woman, and a leader whose work transformed how we understand our warming world.

As one of Australia’s most respected climate researchers, Penny contributed extensively to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and served as a senior scientist at the CSIRO. Her research mapped how climate change would reshape Australia’s seasons – influencing environmental policy and helping communities prepare for the future.

In 2003, Penny transitioned publicly while at the height of her career – an act of courage and authenticity in a field not always welcoming to trans people. She showed that living truthfully and leading with integrity could coexist with scientific excellence.

Penny was also an artist and advocate for justice, known for her compassion, creativity, and clarity. Her life’s work reminds us that science and empathy can grow side by side – like fruit ripening under the summer sun.

This Summer Jam celebrates Penny Whetton’s intellect, integrity, and her unwavering belief in caring for both people and the planet, captured through a mixed berry jam that honours the natural cycles she worked to protect, reflecting the sweetness of summer and the beauty of a changing environment.