Beyond green - The cutting edge of sustainable engineering

This session celebrates International Women in Engineering Day by exploring the diverse pathways and significant contributions of the panel of women in sustainable engineering. From inventing carbon-dioxide-injected concrete to tackling the global plastic waste crisis and managing the transition to renewable energy, our panellists discuss how they are building a greener, more sustainable world.

Host: Dr Louisa James Pearson (Policy Analyst at ATSE)

Moderator & Panellist: Distinguished Professor Vivian Tam FTSE (Western Sydney University)

Guests:

• Laila Halim: PhD Student at Monash University & 2023 Ezio Rizzardo Polymer Scholarship recipient.
• Fiona Allen: Strategic and Development Environmental Lead at CleanCo Queensland & 2023 Elevate Postgraduate Scholar.

Key Discussion Points

1. Diverse pathways into STEM

• Laila [11:13]
• Fiona [21:43]
• Vivian [07:51]

2. Innovating waste into resources

• Injecting carbon dioxide into recycled concrete [10:17] – https://www.co2concrete.com.au.
• Australia's plastic problem, and membrane technology to improve advanced recycling [19:01] – https://www.csiro.au/en/about/challenges-missions/ending-plastic-waste.
• The shift from a "take-make-waste" model to a "make-and-remake" model in Australia [34:52].

3. The renewable energy transition

• How backgrounds in oil, gas and mining informs work on major renewable projects [30:43].
• Understanding the scale of Queensland’s renewable energy targets and the multi-disciplinary effort required to meet them [37:08].
• The importance of balancing infrastructure needs with community relationships and Traditional land ownership [38:54].

4. Advice for students & educators [19:53]

• Even finding out a role isn't right for you is valuable knowledge.
• The core skill of an engineering degree is learning how to solve complex problems.
• Attend university open days to get hands-on experience and see what resonates with you.

Notable Quotes

"I love maths because there are different approaches you can take, but the answer will still be the same. You can reach the same goals no matter where you are coming from." – Distinguished Professor Vivian Tam

"Just because you choose a certain degree, it doesn't mean that you can't pivot. If you're passionate about something and give it your all, you can pretty much do anything." – Laila Halim

"I’ve seen the depletion of our natural resources and the impact on our biodiversity. I wanted to be part of the solution rather than just building infrastructure." – Fiona Allen

Useful Links

• STELR Program: ATSE’s national STEM education initiative for schools – www.stelr.org.au
• Elevate Scholarship (atse.org.au/elevate): A university scholarship supporting women in STEM.
• IMNIS Program (www.imnis.org.au): An industry mentoring network for PhD students and early career researchers.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0KcxbwXLsI