Key speakers at a conference in Russia last week asking what can motivate more women to enter challenging professions were the youngest Russian Cosmonaut Yelena Serova and SCF Group (Sovcomflot) third officer Lyana Mitrofanova.
Serova’s interest in space was aroused by a teacher who enthused her about the subject, but Mitrofanova admitted a seagoing career was not an early ambition.
“I never thought of becoming a seafarer and before embarking upon my maritime education had never even seen the sea," she said.
