Local students talk women in science with Minister

The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Education, Science & Training, will host the one-day event at Parliament House. CSIRO Minerals’ researchers Melissa Loan and Dr Joanne Loh will attend with Year 9 students Shaday Wheatley and Susannah Febbo from Penrhos College in Como.

The symposium will provide the Minister with an opportunity to discuss issues facing women in science-based careers and give female science students a chance to form ongoing mentoring arrangements with women working in science and engineering.

Dr Loh says, “We partnered with Penrhos College because of its proximity to our laboratories in Waterford. On a personal note, I’m actually a former Penrhos student so it was natural for me to choose a student from the college where my interest in science began. The symposium is a great opportunity to inform and encourage female students to pursue a career in science at an age when they will be making choices about their future.”

Kerrie House, Head of Year 9 at Penrhos College, says, “I hope the experience that Susannah, Shaday and their peers have today will help foster in them a desire to contribute to the world of science in all its facets. There are rich and rewarding careers for women in these areas, as shown by the guest speakers at this symposium.

“Melissa and Joanne are excellent mentors for these girls, showing them how real-life women have capitalised on their talents and interests and pursued careers in the sciences.”

“At Penrhos we believe that every girl should have the opportunity to contribute to the global community. The future will be about how we maximise our resources in order to improve the quality of life for people in Australia and around the world. Women will play a pivotal role in the future of science and engineering, helping to change the lives of not only themselves but potentially all people.”

About 50 female science students will be attending the event from across Australia, each with a mentor from the research arena. The researchers will meet with the Minister in the morning, while the students embark on a tour of Parliament House before also meeting with the Minister. All attendees will come together over lunch and hear presentations from several scientists. The symposium will conclude with the students spending one-on-one time with their mentors.

Ms Loan and Dr Loh’s research focuses on improving the efficiency and sustainability of alumina production and is conducted at CSIRO Minerals through the Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions.