Next up in “A Conversation with the Team” is Evelyn Charlesworth, a graduate water resource scientist at KSL
๐ง๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ?
I graduated earlier this year from the University of Canterbury, with a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Urban Resilience and Renewal. My main focus at uni was environmental science and geography. Environmental science is so broad, which I really enjoyed as it gave me a taste of different fields, but it was hard coming out of uni to pick a sector. However, I always enjoyed learning about water resources, as water is such a crucial part of our world. This interest grew after a few summer internships at Watercare in Auckland, where I got to do some awesome fieldwork and learn more about the water resources sector. My role at KSL is my first full time job, and Iโm really enjoying it. Itโs a lot of learning but I love the variety of work and upskilling in groundwater.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ป?
My main workload involves climate change adaptation projects, ground source heat pump schemes, support fieldwork for mineral sands mining projects and a bit of business admin on the side. The most exciting thing Iโm working on is probably a climate change adaptation project funded by the MPI Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change fund. Iโve been producing a lot of statistics for this using Python, which is still a new skill for me.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ?
My biggest challenge this year has probably been entering the workforce in general. Leaving formal education has definitely been a change; getting used to the different demands of working, learning lots of new skills, and the unique aspects of working in a small company.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ?
On the flip side, Iโd say my biggest success this year has been adjusting to work. Thereโs been a lot going on and a lot to learn, and Iโm fairly happy with how Iโve adapted to it all. Getting better at Python has also been something to celebrate!
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐?
In the wider environmental science industry, Iโve found the conversation around degrowth really interesting. This podcast (https://lnkd.in/gaQxb7PB) explains the concept and its reality well. In a time when the climate crisis is becoming increasingly apparent, Iโm interested in how we can restructure our society in a way thatโs achievable and achieves the change we need.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ?
I love getting outdoors, going for walks, tramps, running and swimming in the ocean. I enjoy cooking, gardening, listening to music, podcasts and a good book.
