Hi, I'm Winnie!
I'm in my Fourth Year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical). I caught up with the Women in Engineering team to chat all things engineering and offer my advice to new engineering students.
What or who inspired you to choose engineering?
The reason why I chose engineering is my passion for chemistry and maths and my curiosity as to how those can be applied in real world to create tangible impacts.
Why did you choose the discipline you are studying?
I always loved science and maths in high school, especially chemistry, and since chemical engineering allows me to combine skills and knowledge in those areas, I decided to try it.
What is one thing about university or engineering that you wished you knew earlier?
You don’t have to have your whole degree planned out at the start of university. I started with a dual degree in engineering and science, and then slowly realised I like the problem solving and hands-on aspects of engineering a lot more than the theoretical and lab-based learning in science. I was apprehensive about dropping my science degree, but there was abundant support from the faculty and my peer, and it was a smooth transition.
What made you pick engineering at the University of Queensland over other universities?
Firstly, I love the St Lucia campus, especially in October when Jacaranda is in full blossom – it is more than magical! I also saw the picture of Advanced Engineering Building and Andrew N. Liveris Building and was captivated by the architecture. Secondly, I did some research into what UQ engineering offers, and I liked how within each specialisation, you can further choose a major and there are so many options of majors covering many niche industries.
Give us your best tip for first-year engineering students?
Join as many student societies as you can and get involved early. I met the most amazing people, including students and industry professionals at student society events. It is a great way to make friends in university, especially if you feel a bit overwhelmed starting a new chapter of your life. For example, join the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) which offers great first year engineering deal, which allows you to go to not only EUS events but also events of the six affiliated clubs where you can have a taste of different specialisations.
Tell us your favourite example of amazing engineering?
A complex processing plant producing some of the critical metals used in battery. For example, to produce lithium, we need to process the raw materials which is the rock/ore, and this require a series of different equipment with various dimensions and conditions such as high temperature and complex chemical reagents. To ensure the purity and quality of the lithium product, very precise monitoring and control systems are often implemented with carefully designed alarms and interlocks.
What's your dream engineering job when you graduate?
I currently have two dream jobs. One would be working as metallurgical engineer in a processing plant in a mine which produces two or three different end products, and the other will be design engineer in an engineering consultancy working on designing processing plant. Both are fascinating because processing of raw material into useful products involves complex processes which requires efficiency, safety and sustainability. My chemical engineering degree will be very relevant to this type of work. Most of my vacation program and internship is in mining and resource industry, which is traditionally perceived as polluting and not environmentally friendly, so I want to use my engineering skills to transform this challenge into opportunities to allow mining industry to produce minerals and metals that are critical to energy transition such as copper and lithium.
What do you hope to achieve as a WE student leader?
I want to inspire the next generation of engineers, regardless of their gender and background. I want to raise awareness amongst students on engineering as a degree and a profession. I want to share the awesome experiences I have had, which include coursework and group projects at university, getting involved in extracurricular activities such as leadership role in student society, and the eye-opening internship and vacation work.
