Advancing opportunities for women in science
A summer spent working in Mildura has given three University of Melbourne students unique experiences that will help to further them in their future studies and careers.
Gene Chong, Katya Shemetova and Jenny Chen this month completed their eight-week internships, which were funded by the Invergowrie Foundation and supported by the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre.
Invergowrie interns Katya Shemetova, Gene Chong and Jenny Chen.
View a gallery of photos from the students’ time in the region
Gene, who is one year into a Master of Civil Engineering, embraced the opportunity to learn about water management during her time in the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) River Operations team.
Rare field visits, project work, daily river operations and decision making, and longer-term system planning were some of the “valuable” activities Gene participated in.
“I did not realise the immense effort that is put behind managing a running river, and now I appreciate things around me more,” Gene said.
“I have learned the challenges that river operators and other professionals face when managing the rivers, especially when they have to take different perspectives, including environmental, social, and economic factors, into consideration.
After completing this internship, I feel more prepared to approach future problems, whether they arise in assignments or at work. This experience has encouraged me to adopt a more holistic approach by considering problems from different perspectives.
Gene said she also got to accompany Executive Director River Management Andrew Reynolds and General Manager of Assets Angus Paton to Menindee Lakes and Lake Victoria.
“I was really lucky to go on these field trips and observe various assets, including weirs and locks, up close – something a lot of my colleagues haven’t even had the chance to do,” she said.
“Andrew and Angus provided such valuable insights into the functioning and maintenance of these assets, and their experience greatly enriched my understanding of river infrastructure management.”
Jenny Chen, Katya Shemetova and Gene Chong with MRIC research assistant Paul McClure and University of Melbourne research fellow Tristan Graham.
MDBA welcomed the opportunity to engage with young people through its partnership with the Invergowrie Program, according to General Manager Basin Science & Knowledge and Manager of Mildura Regional Office Andrew Kremor.
“This internship, along with the university placements and graduate development program, are just some of the ways the MDBA hopes to inspire the next cohort of water managers and river operators who will help achieve our purpose of rivers for generations,” Andrew said.
“We were delighted to host Gene and invite other students to come and experience water management. It really is an opportunity to see first-hand just how impactful and fulfilling a career in water management can be.”
The three Invergowrie interns, who lived together while in Mildura, also spent time exploring the region and enjoying its “laid back” lifestyle. They watched a performance at Mildura Arts Centre, visited Orange World, went to the cinema, and Gene and Katya also got to experience tubing on the river.