Class of 2016 member, Katelyn Evans is looking beyond the occupations that she was familiar with in Warrnambool and breaking through gender boundaries to explore the many career paths open to those with a love a Science.
While only at the very beginning of a career in science, Katelyn has already learnt and experienced so much in the first six months of her studies that she is already brimming with practical advice for the next generation of Emmanuel College students.
Katelyn was the Emmanuel College Dux for 2016 in both Physics and Chemistry, and has now followed her love of science to Melbourne studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at Monash.
“I’ve really noticed going to Melbourne that it’s more common to study science. So many people are going into it and so many just love science!” Katelyn contrasts this to her home of Warrnambool where science as a career field beyond nursing, or sports science isn’t commonly considered. “Most of my friends didn’t want to go into science.” Katelyn believes that these low levels of interest are due to the visibility of the professions or the career paths that pursuit of a science qualification can lead to. “It’s not that we are not encouraged to study science, it’s that in Warrnambool we’re not exposed to the jobs that a science career can lead to.”
“In Warrnambool, we see people who are nurses. Or we go to a physio and think this is a good job, where you get to help people, I’d like to do that. We don’t realise how many jobs there really are.”
While it’s still quite male dominated, there is a lot of support available for girls who are studying engineering
While Katelyn discovered her love of science at Emmanuel College, and appreciated the encouragement she received from teacher Nigel Bailey. It was really a trip to Canberra in 2016 that cemented in her mind to pursue a career in science beyond school.
With the assistance of the East Warrnambool Rotary Club, Katelyn was one of a select group of students from across Australia to attend the National Youth Science Forum where she spent 12 days at the Australia National University experiencing real world science.
Now at University, Katelyn’s 4-year degree has started students with a general overview of the types of engineering fields that students can potentially go on to explore, then in second year they will choose where they want to specialise. This introduction has exposed her to possibilities she had never before considered. “We’ve studied a unit on Material, Chemical and Electrical Engineering; Civil Engineering; and Software Engineering.” Katelyn explains “I learnt how to code!”
Looking to the future Katelyn is considering specialising in chemical and material engineering. “I loved Chemistry at school, so I want to keep that as part of my degree.” At this stage, she is hoping that this will lead to a career in materials engineering within the sustainable energy industry. “With all the different energy types there are, and how important it is, it’s an area that will just continue to grow.”
Motivated by her own passion for her field of study, Katelyn encourages anyone who enjoys science to pursue it beyond their secondary school studies. “Science is amazing!”
Traditionally this has been a very male dominated field of study, however the percentage of females studying Katelyn’s course has now reached 27%. “While it’s still quite male dominated, there is a lot of support available for girls who are studying engineering” Katelyn explains.
Katelyn has also enjoyed the move to Melbourne due to the greater diversity. “It’s so different, but an amazing different. You meet a lot more like-minded people.” Katelyn is also enjoying the more multicultural aspects of both the city and the university itself. “The university attracts a lot of international students.”
Speaking to Katelyn following her first round of exams, she highlights the significant difference in how exams are prepared for. “When we were preparing for our Year 12 exams, we did lots of practice exams that we had the answers for. For these we had to learn everything so we could answer questions we had not seen before.”
Katelyn’s message to students is simply to consider science. “It does lead to jobs. Plus it’s attractive because it’s so diverse. You can explore so many different paths and change along the way.”
