1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:21,320 Hello and welcome, and thanks for listening to Carbon Climates, an energy podcast dedicated 2 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:26,000 to discussing all things energy, carbon and sustainability. We also like to talk about 3 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:30,400 what's getting hot, besides from our planet. I'm your host Enya, and today I'm joined 4 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:37,460 by my Carbon Climate and co-host Orla. Hi. Thanks for having me on. Of course, of course. 5 00:00:37,460 --> 00:00:43,520 So we actually know each other through a previous podcast guest who recommended you and I was 6 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:49,440 like, yes, of course. But yes, that would be okay. I was going to say Max's episode 7 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:55,920 title, but I'm still working with it. Like it has to be pundits. It is like how do you 8 00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:01,120 like, you know, merge the Ksipsey in there. Like, you know, yeah, but yeah, thanks for 9 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:07,320 coming on. It's great to have you. So you work for our, you are a former structural 10 00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:12,240 engineer and you are, yep, former structural engineer. And now you're more in the role 11 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:18,560 of sustainability engineer. But yeah, so we'll be delving into that more that shortly. But 12 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:23,640 yeah, can you first tell us what are you doing this weekend? What are you even up to? This 13 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:28,360 weekend, I'll be recovering from last weekend. I'm selling bank holiday money. That was lovely. 14 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:33,560 And I'm starting to become a real advocate for a four day week. So much done. So yeah, 15 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,120 I look, I remember like when it was like the serious discussions, like companies are going 16 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,440 on to four day weeks. I'm like, oh, yeah, that's nice. I genuinely thought it was going 17 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:46,560 to happen, but I doubt it. Like flexible working is quite enough for now. I think. Yeah. You 18 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:51,800 like, you work it out where it's like, okay, I get like 18 holidays and they're back every 19 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:57,200 Monday off and tonight until. I know some people who do that, they book every Friday in the 20 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:05,760 summer off. So they just have like eight four day weeks. Oh, very good. So yes. So your 21 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:10,640 job title now is sustainability engineer. Yes. Although there's a bit of back and forth 22 00:02:10,640 --> 00:02:18,380 with that. So I got into it through the London team. So maybe spoilers, but I started off 23 00:02:18,380 --> 00:02:24,800 in the structural team in 2022 came on as a grad and then that was September, 2022. 24 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,280 And by Christmas, I think I'd agreed to do this comment with the London team. So we have 25 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:36,080 a London team that handles all that carbon assessments, ream, well, all of the sort of 26 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:41,920 sustainability aspects. And they were looking for people to come into their life cycle assessment 27 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:47,920 team because I'd done a placement there before. So I did my six month uni placement there 28 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:56,360 and while I was on placement, I did my dissertation, which is a terrible system. So I have to put 29 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:00,480 one work laptop down and pick up your uni laptop and dissertation in your evenings. 30 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:05,280 It's just never ending. Yeah. So if anyone from Trinity is listening, can you change 31 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:12,640 that? So yes, my bachelor's dissertation had been on the embodied carbon advocate study 32 00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:19,880 art building and I'd done a lot of the optioneering and looked into how carbon impact was affected 33 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:25,880 by design changes. And so this is a comment they thought was a good fit for me. And I 34 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:31,520 started that in May and never left. So to run back to your question, everyone in the 35 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:36,880 London team is a sustainability consultant. Whereas in the Belfast team, we thought it 36 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,920 would be better if I stick with engineer because it fits better with my degree and my experience. 37 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:51,160 Okay. Yeah. Very, very interesting, very interesting stuff. So how long have you been in this sector? 38 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:59,640 Really tricky question. So yeah, I'm officially sustainability team since last May, so a year. 39 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:05,160 And then before that, six months in structures plus a six month placement. And before that, 40 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:10,680 I worked in a newspaper. So completely different. Wow. Like that's very interesting. And I know 41 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,480 you probably can't say which newspaper, but what part of the newspaper is it like, you 42 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:19,360 know, I was the picture desk. So I was the picture desk cover on a Saturday and I used 43 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:23,520 to come up from Dublin because I went to Trinity College Dublin. I used to come up on the bus 44 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,720 on Friday afternoon and work most Saturdays and then get the bus back down. But it was 45 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:33,000 such a nice and interesting and well paid part time job. And it was so much better than 46 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,160 working in the bar. Yeah, I had done before that. You just kept up and did that most of 47 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:41,720 the weeks of my five years. That is so good. Are you really good at like, you know, placing 48 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,800 like picture placements like, you know, say if you're designing a report, you're like, 49 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:52,080 no, this goes here at the center or. Yes, I like to think so. It was a really strange 50 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:56,480 job. So it was like, I remember getting a request. You would have to find suitable pictures, 51 00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:01,480 four stories. And I remember once they wanted one of Justin Bieber looking particularly 52 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:06,200 like a lizard. So, you know, you could send an R being like, does he look lizard enough? 53 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:16,320 I'm not sure. Oh, my goodness. Like that is class. Are they hiring like, you know, no. 54 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:22,960 Oh, it's brilliant. So see when you were at school, did you ever envisage yourself in 55 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:29,400 this role? Oh, my goodness. No, no, I remember because I was very thinking about art and 56 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:33,840 music. I remember that anytime there was like a STEM event, me and my friends used to look 57 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:38,880 at each other and roll our eyes being like, oh, STEM. There's so much focus on STEM. What 58 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:46,320 about STEM? So I was fairly good at physics and maths, but it wasn't my passion. And I 59 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:51,840 was actually torn right up until my A level results came in. So I applied through UCAS 60 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:58,480 and through CAO. And this was my genius thinking at the time was that I apply for engineering 61 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:06,760 courses through UCAS and my top CAO choice was actually history at Trinity. So at UCAS, 62 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,360 I think my top choice was structural engineering in Edinburgh and structural engineering in 63 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:16,720 Queens and CAO was Trinity history. And my A levels ended up slipping. So I did not get 64 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:22,560 what I wanted to get. Partially maybe because I met my current partner like three months 65 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:28,920 before exams. Instead of us studying, like we met in the public library and instead of 66 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,360 us studying, we would go on like three hour lunch breaks just to have the whole time. 67 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:38,480 So you know, oh, that's so romantic. It was worth it. But you know, I would like that 68 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:46,240 maths grade. But yeah, so I ended up not getting the points for structural engineering in Queens. 69 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:51,760 I was offered civil, but that stage I didn't realize that you could do civil. You could 70 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:56,800 go into structural with a civil degree, which you totally can. And I didn't get the points 71 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,680 to get into Trinity history. So I got put into Trinity engineering and then I ended 72 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:06,320 up picking there because I always said Trinity was just far away enough. So that's it. And 73 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:12,720 yeah, the reason I applied for those was basically because I knew that with the physics and the 74 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:19,920 maths, I could get into a useful career, but I was in no way, in no way, you know, drawn 75 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:25,240 towards it. I had no clue that I would enjoy it so much. It was a complete shot in the 76 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:26,240 dark. 77 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:31,360 That's, yep, that's really great to hear. And that's like, kind of like the point I 78 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:36,040 want to bring across this podcast, like you can get through like into the energy industry, 79 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:43,000 into the engineering industry, through like any kind of like any pathway. Like even one 80 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:50,000 of the pathways I kind of realized and I was like, oh, that sounds really cool. The like 81 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:55,080 part-time apprenticeship, like, yes, like once you go to uni one day a week and then 82 00:07:55,080 --> 00:08:01,560 four other days a week and you were like, you know, in a work, whatever it was. Because 83 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:06,400 I don't know if you find it, but see coming out of uni and then they're just like, yeah, 84 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,280 practical experience. Like, you know, definitely a must. I'm like, how am I supposed to get 85 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:11,280 this practical experience? 86 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:15,760 Exactly. We have a few apprentices in our office and it's funny because they're only 87 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:21,720 a few years older than me. The ones we currently have, they're great, Jack, and they have so 88 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:26,080 much more experience than I have. And you know, they're really valued member of the 89 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,800 team and they know everything. And I think for a while we also had a program where you 90 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:34,200 could try different disciplines. So they were maybe part of the structures team for a while 91 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:39,000 and now part of the disciples team. So they've gained all that experience. They don't have 92 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:44,840 a student loan, but it is a longer process. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And I think that's why placements 93 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:50,520 in uni are so valuable as well. Because I always saw it as partially my six months long 94 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:55,040 interview getting to Arath, but also the other way around. Like if I didn't like them, then 95 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,040 I knew I did nothing about it. 96 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:01,960 Yeah. You didn't have to like, yeah. Even like it's interesting to say about placements. 97 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:07,720 Like I did my placement in the health service here in the estates department and I like 98 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:13,640 I loved like learning about buildings, loved all the data with it. And it was kind of like 99 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:19,040 what did the calculations or what about like, you know, the background, like, you know, 100 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:20,520 like what are the results for this? 101 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:26,920 Yeah. I did a placement with architect actually in sixth year. I loved it. So I have always 102 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:31,640 loved buildings. Yeah. Just because they're beautiful. And I've always been fascinated, 103 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:37,840 you know, walking through Rome, looking at ancient buildings, you know, wondering how 104 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:43,360 they're still standing and looking into the materials and the aesthetics of it. And I 105 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:47,920 thought architecture was going to be it. But when I did the placement with the architect, 106 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:54,320 I was like, I need to know more. So it kept the drawings kept saying refer to structural 107 00:09:54,320 --> 00:10:00,760 drawings. So I was like, well, you know, what's happening here? They were talking about how 108 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:05,640 tricky a certain site was because it was on a ledge or something. Didn't understand it 109 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:09,720 at the time, but I was so interested. They couldn't tell me. And then they were like, 110 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:13,320 well, this is what structural engineer does and showed me a page of calculations scare 111 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:17,360 me. And I was like, no, I kind of get that. Like, those are the moments that we've done 112 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:22,960 in physics class. And you all kind of made sense. I was like, right, we'll do that. Give 113 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:27,160 that a try. Let's go do a five year degree class because that works. 114 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:34,680 It's funny and it's really great that you're like, OK, I find that type of work. If you 115 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:39,080 find a connection or you're able to connect with people, do you get this? I understand 116 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:46,400 it so much better. You won't mind me saying this, but my partner is an architect. And 117 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:52,880 so he like, you know, we kind of work hand in hand with architects. And I always go to 118 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:57,680 him, yeah, like, you know, do you like, you know, did you check the S for that? He's like 119 00:10:57,680 --> 00:11:05,360 someone else in the office does that. I'm like, OK, great. Thank you, Matt. Yeah. No. 120 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,960 So yeah, that's really great. Like, thank you for telling us about your background and 121 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:16,400 experience. Yeah. So just a bit more about yourself because I'm really excited to get 122 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:24,040 this episode because you're involved in so many sectors. So you're like, I say, you take 123 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:32,080 a deep side. There were many, many. Yes. Yes. Yes. So you're a sustainable engineer with 124 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:36,960 Arup. Yeah. And then you're also the past chair of the we were just talking about this 125 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:42,400 before the podcast episode. I struck E. Yes. Like, so that's the Institute of Structural 126 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:48,600 Engineers. Yeah. Yeah. OK. And is it Institute of Structural Engineers Ireland or? No. Well, 127 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:53,360 I start these just Institute of Structural Engineers. And then I was chair of Northern 128 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,520 Ireland and Ireland. So for the first time, we had a combined young members group, which 129 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:01,160 was a really interesting process, especially seeing as our parent committees were still 130 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:10,400 separate. Oh, OK. That's class. But brilliant. So yes, you're back. So that I struck like 131 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:17,320 I struck the like I struck. Yes. I'll add this in. OK. OK. Fine. Sustainability engineer 132 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:25,120 Arup. And also you're involved with STEM activities. So yes, STEM, science, technology, engineering, 133 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:30,840 mathematics. But there's the STEM organization and I like and they do a lot of wonderful 134 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:37,000 activities around like trying to get different. So I want to say just secondary schools. I'm 135 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:42,640 sure it's primary schools as well. But like school children from like no age to like, 136 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:47,640 you know, maybe just before uni involved in kind of the STEM areas. Yeah. But yeah, can 137 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,560 you talk a bit about that? Right. Yeah. So I've always been passionate about STEM. I 138 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:59,280 think looking back, we didn't have anyone come in and talk to us about what civil or 139 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:05,720 structural or sustainability engineer did. We did have a few people who came in and talked 140 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:10,440 about engineering in general. But I think it's fair to say that every time it would 141 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:14,800 be the same sort of person. And I think it's really important when you're younger to see 142 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:21,200 someone who's like you in the position. You know, anyone can come in and tell you what 143 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:25,760 they do in a day. But I think you need to be able to see yourself in the position that 144 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:34,240 they're in, which I never really did, to be honest. And I think what's really important 145 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:41,760 is to also banish the stereotypes about engineers. So yes, I'm STEM coordinator for the Belfast 146 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:46,840 office and I'm a registered construction industry training board ambassador as well. So I'm 147 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:51,120 registered STEM hub and I am a ambassador. So we do a lot of activities through them. 148 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:55,200 They're really great at coordinating things. And then also through the institution. So 149 00:13:55,200 --> 00:14:00,840 the institution of civil engineers is great at getting large groups of secondary school 150 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,240 children usually around options age to come in. Like there've been a couple of events 151 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:09,360 at W5 that actually swim to civil engineering and I've really enjoyed taking part in those 152 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:13,800 and speaking and also integrating current projects. So I think that's where you really 153 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:19,000 get the children and students attention is when they can get a grasp on what's going 154 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:24,420 on. So we have the big Belfast transport hub project. So everyone knows that shine new 155 00:14:24,420 --> 00:14:29,080 building in the middle of town, which is shutting all the roads down. It will be very lovely 156 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:33,200 and glamorous when it opens up so they can relate to that. And then similarly, like we 157 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:37,800 have Belfast stories project coming up. So it's going to be a new museum. You know what? 158 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,640 Tell it. The big new museum that's going to open in the middle of Belfast will definitely 159 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:45,920 tie into local schools and show them how we go about the process. 160 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:51,120 That's yeah, that's really great. And like, I think it's like so important at that age 161 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:57,840 to get people involved or like interested in this kind of area. Yes. Yeah, because like 162 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:02,520 you're saying yourself, like, I can't remember anyone really coming in and being like, oh, 163 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:08,320 yeah, like I want to know. I want to do that. Like I was kind of told, you know, it's kind 164 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:13,560 of engineering, like, good job. And I'm like, good job. Yeah. Money. Sensible. Yeah. Yeah. 165 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:20,600 Go do that lecture. I think you know, the stereotypes persist. So I think it used to 166 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,400 be that you didn't see any women in engineering when that's no longer the case. And I feel 167 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:30,120 like students are aware of that. They don't think that they're going to be the only female. 168 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:36,640 Yeah. What's also important, I think, is that it's not just one type of person. So I remember 169 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:41,480 going from my first job interview and a friend who I love very dearly, but it just shows 170 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:46,760 how stereotypes are ingrained even at university was like to me. Consider being a little less 171 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:53,720 yourself. She is. She didn't mean it. She's also German, so she's quite right. 172 00:15:53,720 --> 00:16:00,400 She said to me, essentially, you know, I'm quite. I don't take myself too seriously and 173 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:07,600 I'm quite chubby and bubbly and I like that. That's who I am. And essentially, you know, 174 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:12,040 people think that you have to be extremely serious. Oh, yeah. Or chinos and you're not 175 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,200 allowed to make any jokes and everyone goes in and puts their head down for the day. And 176 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:20,200 that's just not what engineering is. I like, I honestly feel like people work so much better 177 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:24,960 under like someone's like, I can go to them like, you know, like, you know, I'm going 178 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:30,480 to start so strict they won't shout at me if I make a mistake or it's like, you know, 179 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:34,320 like, where's the people like maybe not that I'm going to say that I would manage, but 180 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:38,680 like anyone like has an issue and they would come to me. Yes. I could be like, what's what's 181 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:43,120 the crack? Like, you know, what's up, lad? Like, you know, let's sort this. Just being 182 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:47,760 like being friendly and like, you know, being approachable, like, you know, really helps. 183 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:53,400 The team needs diverse personalities or yes, exactly. It's up. Yeah. For all the same 184 00:16:53,400 --> 00:17:00,560 person is boring. But yeah, no, that's like, that's great. Thank you for the introduction 185 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:07,440 on that. I'm on Lexis stem. I'll post a link to stem and the episode description that 186 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:12,360 people can click on if they would like. And I've done this for the past couple of episodes, 187 00:17:12,360 --> 00:17:15,960 but I'm not too sure if the links are getting through because like when I go to click on 188 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:20,840 it, I'm like, why can't I click on it? It's so fulfilling. It honestly is. And you only 189 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:26,520 have to do one activity a year to keep your membership. Oh, okay. So you get all of the 190 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:31,160 newsletters, you get told about all of the events, you have to do very little of it yourself. 191 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:38,440 And we would go in with our facilitated activities that as a, as a, as a stem ambassador, you 192 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:42,480 just need to show up. There are plenty of activities that we need help with. And you 193 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:46,440 know, it's, it's not a long time and you can make such a difference. That's not to get 194 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:52,040 all emotional. Like I interacted with something like 900 students last year. I didn't, I tried 195 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:57,000 to keep a spreadsheet to keep track. Oh my goodness. That's class. Yeah. If you can change 196 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:03,640 just one of their minds. Yeah. I like that's class. That will go on the like with these 197 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:08,800 episodes, you can say we snippets of like, you know, you can like, like as a preview 198 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:14,920 of the episode, but that'll be the preview. I have to check my stats. It's like, that's 199 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,400 a fact check. 200 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:24,720 So we've talked about the activities you're involved in and your role as a sustainability 201 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:31,680 engineer. So we're also like a sustainability engineers at EPP Energy here as well. See 202 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:37,520 it Arab, how often like does your job fluctuate from day to day also or like kind of the role 203 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,120 or just what you're involved in? 204 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:45,000 Yeah. So I feel like it's really self-steering in terms of your career and even what you 205 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:49,000 want to do day to day and what projects you want to get involved in, which I love. There's 206 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:54,640 also a little bit of pressure, but you know, if I wanted to just do my life cycle assessments, 207 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:58,000 which are so lovely and I love with all my heart, but if I wanted to do those day in 208 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:04,080 day out, I could. But I want to add more strings to my boat and it's very easy to turn around, 209 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:09,760 especially in a larger company and say, just throw anything at me. So at the minute I'm 210 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:15,240 getting involved in like reviewing BREEAM evidence. I've done a bit of energy modeling. 211 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:22,360 I want to get involved in well assessments and well, this year, essentially if something 212 00:19:22,360 --> 00:19:28,200 comes into the Belfast office, I want to give it a go. Like any aspect of sustainability 213 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:33,080 associated with it, I want to try and take on because so many of the projects I work 214 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:38,600 on are based in London because for the likes of planning, you have to have such high sustainability 215 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:44,080 credentials and for example, you have to do a life cycle assessment with the GLA referable 216 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:49,640 projects in London. Yes. So, you know, there's much more of a push there. Whereas I think 217 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:55,400 locally it's starting to change, but I want to get more involved in the local sustainability 218 00:19:55,400 --> 00:20:01,640 atmosphere and, you know, local projects. That's what we're finding about the like, 219 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:07,760 you know, the WLCA. Like I think remember when that first came out a couple of years 220 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:13,120 ago, unless we were like, what is this? And then it's like, oh, there needs to be a proper 221 00:20:13,120 --> 00:20:17,840 structure for this. It takes an unbelievable amount of time sometimes completely reliant 222 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:24,720 on the design teams. But yeah, because you're collating so much information and you're constantly 223 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:29,560 chasing to make sure you have the right information. And then talking about fluctuation, you know, 224 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:34,200 that's a matter we'll be throwing in the works like for whole life carbon assessments, we 225 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:38,480 use the RICS, Royal Institute of Chartered Survivors, professional statement. So it's 226 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:42,760 the closest thing we have to a standard like a Eurocode that you would use in design. Last 227 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:47,920 one came out in 2017, I think, and it hasn't changed. And then as of July this year, they've 228 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:54,320 got a revision. So it's gone from 44 pages to about 144 pages. Oh my goodness. And the 229 00:20:54,320 --> 00:21:02,320 process has changed, categories have changed and every RICS, RICS, scope, LCA, which is 230 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:06,760 all the GLA referable projects will have to be done by this new standard. So, you know, 231 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:10,880 talking about fluctuation, everything, how I do everything will change in a few months. 232 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:16,200 So trying to keep up with the industry changing is definitely a huge part of my job. 233 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:22,120 It's very like one of the big things I want to get done here because you probably noticed 234 00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:27,480 from like working in London and then seeing the London progression around energy regulation 235 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:35,040 in terms of energy modelling for commercial buildings, we're pretty good in that we do 236 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:40,560 like, you know, we've got the like near at zero, nearly zero buildings, document and 237 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:47,440 all. See for domestic, the energy assessment market is so behind in that they're like, 238 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:54,240 so probably I've come across SAP 2021 and SAP 10. So that's the new energy software 239 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:58,880 they have to use in England when you're putting in a domestic property. See for here, it's 240 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:08,720 called SAP 2009 because it came out in 2009 and it hasn't been updated in like 15 years. 241 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:12,960 And it's just like, wow. And you know what, it'd be fine. Like, you know, be like, right 242 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:17,560 now, okay, like, you know, this will be updated soon. They're planning to update it next year. 243 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:23,080 But it really pissed me off because with your APC rating, like, and you probably know, just 244 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:28,520 bought a house, you probably know, your energy rating, like it can possibly entitle you to 245 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:34,160 a green mortgage or cash back options. And if you get like a high rating, and then because 246 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:40,760 our software is out of date, like, hold on, like Cs and Ds could be Bs and As. We don't 247 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:46,160 know. You can't know something unless you measure it. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. I always 248 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:51,000 feel like we're a few steps behind, which, you know, I think most regions are, but you 249 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:56,920 see the likes of, you know, people have been talking to Glasgow City Council about implementing 250 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:02,120 body carbon assessments for high rise buildings. People are starting to catch up. Yeah. And 251 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:07,320 I find it sometimes frustrating on the London calls because they say for a standard take 252 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:14,720 25% GDBS replacement of cement. And I'm like, hold on, I think the same one is what we use 253 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:21,680 here, you know, on the vast majority of projects, they're not replacing any cement. But yeah, 254 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:25,640 it's hard to keep up with and then something will change. So this time last year, when 255 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,960 we were doing our optioneering process for the LCI, you look at different, you take the 256 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:36,320 design as it is, you model it, and then you identify top contributors and high impact 257 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:40,560 materials and then you try to liaise with the design teams and go, okay, how can we 258 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:45,200 reduce this? What are our options here? It's the optioneering process. So this time last 259 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:50,920 year, we would have been prescribing high amounts of GDBS, which is ground granulated 260 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:57,800 blast springs. Okay, thanks. So high content of that because that reduces your cement. 261 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:02,560 And that was getting us amazing results. Like body carbon was shooting down. Everyone loved 262 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:08,640 it. It was a silver bullet. Now, you know, more evidence has come out saying, okay, this 263 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:16,520 is actually constrained material. So you using high volumes of this isn't actually impacting 264 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:23,200 the world's carbon because the amount of steel being produced GDBS is not a byproduct of 265 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:29,280 steel. The amount of steel being produced is still the same and overall, yeah, the climate 266 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:35,520 is in trouble. So all of a sudden, best practice is to use no more than 25%. It's just, it's 267 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:42,040 so hard to keep up with all the industry guidance coming out. It really is. It is, it is, it's 268 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:46,160 very interesting to talk to someone else about this because you often find like, you know, 269 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,320 you can talk about people like in your own company, like, you know, they're like, okay, 270 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:54,960 yeah, I understand. But then someone inside, you know, it's like, oh, yeah, even between 271 00:24:54,960 --> 00:25:01,800 consultancies. So other LCA assessors may not have come across guidance and may still 272 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:06,720 be saying, pop your GDBS to 50. We can get you a great, you know, scores rating if you 273 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:12,160 just increase it. I only found out recently about recycled content steel. High recycled 274 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:16,000 content steel, if you put it into one click, the software we use has a low in body carbon 275 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:21,640 value. Yeah. But because straight, because steel is a constrained resource, it's not 276 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:26,600 actually reducing the amount of carbon produced in the steel industry. Right. Okay. Even if 277 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:30,480 you're increasing the recycle content of your steel, more primary steel is being produced 278 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:35,880 elsewhere to make up for that. It's just, it's just a never ending wormhole that you 279 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:40,600 can get. Oh, my goodness. Like, because even like one of the, we're getting so off topic 280 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:46,520 here, like apologies, but like, even like one of the, because I know for structural, 281 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:54,360 like we calculate U values as part of, not even for structural, but like, like we calculate 282 00:25:54,360 --> 00:26:00,320 U values, the likes of concrete and the worst they gave like a thermal conductivity of 2.5 283 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:07,840 and it always says 2% steel. And I remember like our old LCA assessor, Angela, Angela, 284 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:12,280 but she always said, no, it's going to be that one because that like, it's going to 285 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:17,160 have some sort of steel in it, like reinforcement. So yeah, it's good. Like, you know, like, 286 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:22,600 like when it all comes together, you're like, oh my gosh, it's like, we need to, we need 287 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:27,120 to stop this. It's so important to consider everything together as well. Like consider 288 00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:30,600 it holistically. I don't think it really suits. That's another reason that I've not just 289 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:35,280 be doing my LCA is I don't think things can really be considered in a silo when tackling 290 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:39,680 the climate crisis. You know, you need people working in energy to work with people looking 291 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:44,240 at body carbon or people looking at operational, you know, but you can't just like, I could 292 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:49,720 easily say put in a different HVAC system. It has a lower in body carbon, but the operational 293 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:54,760 carbon could shoot up. But if I don't consider them holistically, then yeah, you know, overall 294 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:56,760 negative for the planet. 295 00:26:56,760 --> 00:27:04,760 Orla, thank you very much for explaining by how your job fluctuates from day to day. 296 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:11,680 That was me reading it. It's like, okay, hold on. Where are we? 297 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:18,200 So then like, you know, being focused on structural and sustainability, is there any sort of, 298 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,400 we kind of did cover this, but is there any sort of training prep you would recommend 299 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,960 to enter this role? 300 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:31,920 If you're interested, just get talking to people. I think it's really hard to determine 301 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:36,560 if you say you want to go into sustainability, what does that mean? You know, I've met people 302 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:40,520 on night out when they say that they're a sustainability consultant and I'm like, oh 303 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,520 my goodness, great, we did the same job. And then you end up talking to them and you're 304 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:49,040 like, we're completely different jobs. I have no clue what you're talking about. You know, 305 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:55,040 a lot of people look very high level at the carbon companies, so one, two, three emissions. 306 00:27:55,040 --> 00:28:01,040 And then I'm looking at a very project building level, how exactly can you swap out your 307 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:07,720 concrete, or your concrete mix, or even like, if you're doing a full rec scope floors, 308 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,960 like have you considered a different type of flooring material? 309 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:11,960 Yeah. 310 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:17,400 And you know, it varies so much. So if anyone's considering it, just find out, listen to this 311 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:21,480 podcast. Listen to all the people who are coming on here and talking about how you're 312 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,800 involved in the sector. And then I love institutions. 313 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:30,080 Yeah, I do. And you know, student memberships are usually free. And then you get so much 314 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:34,000 material, you get their newsletters, you get their technical documents, and you get to 315 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:35,000 go to events. 316 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:39,760 And it's the connections like you form along the way. Like, so even if I think about like 317 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:45,080 the likes of like four years ago, the amount of people like, you know, that I didn't know 318 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:49,600 and I know now I am like, well, okay, that's, that's good. And that's tripled. Okay. 319 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:51,600 They're not just colleagues. They're friends. 320 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:56,600 Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's like, yeah, like, I like that. I like that. They're friends. 321 00:28:56,600 --> 00:29:01,600 I just don't like cheating. 322 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:06,920 But yeah, like, even I remember like you're saying about like, you know, talking to people 323 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:12,240 and realizing, yeah, okay, we're in the same. I was like, oh, like we do completely different 324 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:17,080 stuff. Yeah. I remember I was in a committee meeting for the Energy Institute. And I was 325 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:22,760 talking about, you know, electricity and how the carbon factor of it has gone way down 326 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:28,360 over the past like 10 years because of all the renewables connecting to it. And there's 327 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:32,720 like, you know, the head of committee and the vice chair, they're talking. They're like, 328 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:37,040 oh, yeah, like, you know, what's that now? And they're like talking about like in total 329 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:42,600 like megawatts, like, you know, the megawatts, like the amount it produces. I'm like, oh, 330 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:48,120 yeah, it's like not 0.163 kilograms per kilowatt hour. And they're just kind of looking at 331 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:53,120 me like, what? Like, yeah, yeah, it's like, it's like, what's like, what are you? What 332 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:57,400 are you talking about? I'm like, oh, okay, they're different, different terminologies, 333 00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:58,400 but that's fine. 334 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:05,320 I do if anyone wanted to, you know, find out more about what life cycle is as it does, 335 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:09,640 if you're looking into that aspect. And the first thing I read on it was how to calculate 336 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:15,960 embodied carbon, which is produced by the ICT. And it is written by Will Arnold, who's 337 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:20,360 used to be our and Orlando Gibbons, who is our and who's in my sustainability team in 338 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:25,240 London, and they just set it out. So it's so straightforward. It's got pretty graphs, 339 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:28,720 pretty pictures and explains exactly what we do. And it really breaks it down. 340 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:33,120 That is absolutely class. So you're working with the people who literally invented the 341 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:34,120 guidance on. 342 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:40,320 Yes. Yeah. And because I use this in my bachelor's thesis, and then I went to the ICT council 343 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:49,000 and I met Will Arnold, he currently works for the ICT. And I was like, I don't want 344 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:57,520 to say fan girl, I'm sorry. But you know, I went up to him and I was like, I cited you 345 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:02,920 in my dissertation. Oh, thank you for your help. Thank you for producing these documents. 346 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:03,920 Yes. 347 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:12,320 That's not my coolest moment. I've done the same to so many people. There was someone 348 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:17,040 that we had a dinner last year and there was someone who they weren't a speaker, but they 349 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:21,200 were sitting at one of the high tables. And I was just like, I love all the work you're 350 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:27,800 doing with energy and sustainability. And I was like, oh yeah. And I was like, you did 351 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:32,960 this, I did this as well. And they're just looking at me and say, OK. And then I think 352 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:37,480 I just had a couple of glasses and then it's like at that point, it's 100% dangerous. It's 353 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:42,880 so dangerous. I need to leave now. I'm sorry. You just said the name Will Arnold. I'm checking 354 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:47,040 if I'm connected on LinkedIn because that name sounds I'm not. OK. 355 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:52,960 He is very active on LinkedIn. I love he's very direct. So if he doesn't agree with the 356 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:58,800 article, he explains why under the article. And it's really interesting to see, you know, 357 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:02,040 some of the articles are obviously screen washing and it's great to see how that can 358 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,840 be approached and how two sides of the argument like it isn't black and white, how you can 359 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:14,080 consider it. It's very interesting. Very good. I'll give him a shaky follow. I do love following 360 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:18,720 people. I don't even want to look at my LinkedIn and see how many like how much how many people 361 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:24,240 I follow, because it's probably like just exorbitant and it's like no one needs to see 362 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:27,640 that. You know, it's like when you look at your Instagram followers and you're like, 363 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:35,880 what? What do I follow? Like, why am I? Yes, exactly. Why am I interested in their lifestyle 364 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:41,880 and completely tied in? I need to know what happens. Oh, brilliant. Thank you for explaining 365 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:47,960 that with guides as well. And we link that or link information to that. And again, no, 366 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:53,080 yeah, I'll do it in the episode. I'll do it on LinkedIn. Like no, LinkedIn is like the 367 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:58,120 episode of promotion. Yeah, just it's just a wee monologue like, you know, just by like 368 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:03,320 read through this. OK, but yes. So let's go back to being STEM coordinator. OK, so what 369 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:09,560 are some of the biggest challenges you face in terms of like you have found in your experience 370 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:15,840 like reaching the younger generation? Yeah. I mean, as I already talked about the preconceived 371 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:22,400 notion of what an engineer is, can say if you're if you're at a career's fair, if the 372 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:26,120 students already have in their head what an engineer looks like and know that they not 373 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:32,400 looks like, you know, what they do on a day to day, they can walk right by you and they're 374 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:37,640 not interested. So it's really getting that engagement, which I find is generally better. 375 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:42,440 I love a good career's fair. I do because I think it's really useful for the students. 376 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:46,600 I think it lets us interact with especially the ones that already know that they have 377 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:51,160 an interest. You know, they can come up to us and we know that we're it's a it's a good 378 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:57,320 use of time. But generally, hands on activities are really successful. But of course, they 379 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:01,200 take more time to get organization. You know, if you're going into your group, like I went 380 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:09,560 into Wellington this year and did a short lecture on what I do day to day and what I did as 381 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:14,600 structural engineer. So I get to cover two fields. I brought a railway engineer with 382 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:19,560 me and they built bridges. But while they were doing the bridge building, like you might 383 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:24,360 think it's silly that they're just using newspaper and sellotape and they were talking 384 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:27,480 about it and they were getting into it. And because I was going around table to table, 385 00:34:27,480 --> 00:34:32,000 they were asking questions. They were actively engaged. They weren't just wandering around 386 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:35,840 a career's fair. So it's really good. You get talking to people who you wouldn't usually 387 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:42,520 then. So yeah, I mean, it can be tough to get in touch with schools as well. You know, 388 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:47,700 STEM Hub and I are great and CITV are great for giving links. But if you want to do something 389 00:34:47,700 --> 00:34:52,280 in schools that aren't coming through them, it can be really tricky. You know, sending 390 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:56,760 out emails. Like I remember, I really wanted to get in touch with a couple of girls' schools 391 00:34:56,760 --> 00:35:02,320 last year because I don't think we've been out to many at the company. And I emailed 392 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:06,400 all of them. I tried to get emails at careers teachers and mostly just got the reception 393 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:10,840 and none of them came back to me, which was quite heartbreaking. And you know, you can't 394 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:16,200 just go in. You can't just show up at the door being like, I'm an engineer. Can I talk 395 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:22,040 to you? There's protocol in place. For good reason. But yes. Yeah. I think that's nothing 396 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:26,120 we're still trying to sort out. Usually you get it through someone knows someone, you 397 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:31,120 know, someone has an update who's a teacher in a school, which is great. But it can sometimes 398 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:34,780 mean that you're going to the same schools all the time. You know, we have great connections 399 00:35:34,780 --> 00:35:41,320 with Matthew, Sullivan, Campbell. But you need to look outside of that. You know, there 400 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:45,320 are plenty of schools in Belfast that never have any companies come to them. And that's 401 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:51,200 what I really want to focus on in the next few years. Yeah. Yeah. Very good. Very good. 402 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:55,360 Well, I'll be interested to see like, you know, like, you know, the LinkedIn post and 403 00:35:55,360 --> 00:36:03,880 like finally made it like she's. Oh, brilliant. Yeah, it is always hard to talk to the, um, 404 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:10,360 like the generation like I'm going to sound really old. Okay. But my friend was telling 405 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:17,320 me about her niece and nephew and the way they do with iPads like night in the class. 406 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:22,320 I'm like, pretty sure I didn't have anything like that when I was like in like secondary 407 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:26,720 school or primary school. And I'm like, well, it's like a different it's growing up in a 408 00:36:26,720 --> 00:36:30,600 different environment. It definitely is. And, you know, I've been in schools where they've 409 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,800 been on their phones. And I remember we had phones in secondary school, but you would 410 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:39,520 have been absolutely torn to shreds. Oh, yeah. Being seen with it, you know, outside the 411 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:44,560 classroom. So it is it's definitely a different field to navigate. And some people have had 412 00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:49,440 great luck getting across to students on like, I follow this great structural engineer on 413 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:55,760 TikTok. Okay. I think it's Rogan McDonald. Okay. Yeah, she's really good. And it's so 414 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:59,920 nice. She does like day in the life. Oh, and then my friend who is in work, actually, I 415 00:36:59,920 --> 00:37:06,080 think he makes TikToks as well. He definitely makes Instagram reels. He is currently on 416 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:10,000 site at the moment. And he's doing like day in the life of a site engineer. And you know, 417 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:14,600 oh, I guess I can see that and kids see that I read that they get to see. I love that because 418 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:19,000 then they get to see like the real like, you know, all this felt like an actual building 419 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:26,120 site looks like. Exactly. Like, I always remember like my first time on the site. Like just 420 00:37:26,120 --> 00:37:30,120 like you go in, you sign in and they're like, I go to the main office. And then there's 421 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:34,840 all the scaffolding and like, everything you've got your helmet on. Yeah. Where's the main 422 00:37:34,840 --> 00:37:42,920 office? And now you're just like, oh, if all the signs like, of course. Okay, well, thanks 423 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:51,080 for answering that. So we've come to kind of the quiz section. I have just taken a bit 424 00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:58,680 and I didn't know how to prep. Yeah, yeah. I said I can't prep but I didn't take physics. 425 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:05,520 Well, actually, so like what I've done because usually I try to throw in a joke as well. 426 00:38:05,520 --> 00:38:14,720 So yeah, so I try to throw in a joke. So if you want, I can like, I can just ask the question 427 00:38:14,720 --> 00:38:23,200 like I could like I can make the question. Okay, the question. Yeah. So let me see. I 428 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:27,320 need to in my head, I need to phrase this properly because the many times I've messed 429 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:33,400 up the punch line like that just by saying it wrong. You got this. Okay. Why don't you 430 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:39,800 tell structural engineers any secrets? I don't know. Why don't you tell structural engineers 431 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:52,200 any secrets? In case they crack. Was that bad? See, you're like, that's fair. That's 432 00:38:52,200 --> 00:39:00,480 brilliant. You're like, you're laughing and I'm taking that as a win. Like, like, I love 433 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:08,040 a good stature. My first company wide email, I was promoting a social and can't even remember 434 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:15,000 context. But at the bottom I put a dog wearing a hard hat saying I specialize in roofing. 435 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:21,120 I thought I was hilarious. And I looked around the office when it got sent out. Who's looking 436 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:26,960 at this? Is anyone in stitches at their desk? Because I know what I am. No, not a large 437 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:31,920 breast. You know what, I always like, you know, when you tell a joke and no one laughs 438 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:37,160 and then like I used to be known for that when I was like sitting at my old desk upstairs. 439 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:41,480 And now I absolutely love it when no one laughs because I'm just like, I've won. Like they 440 00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:45,800 absolutely hate it. Like, and like that's what I've succeeded. Someone laughs and like 441 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:54,320 I need to do worse. Like I need to like, you know, it needs to be. But yes. Okay. So I'm, 442 00:39:54,320 --> 00:40:02,080 so I'm just going to name what is it? So like, so I've just pressed something and it is, 443 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:07,240 it is going to make my keyboard go funny. Okay. I'm going to name at different types 444 00:40:07,240 --> 00:40:16,280 of engineering. And I want you to like have a guess that like if structural engineering 445 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:23,080 is older or newer than it. Okay. Okay. Yeah. So. Structural engineering, like where did 446 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:29,160 you get your date from? This, well like that's the thing. I'm like working on it. Because 447 00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:34,680 you know, the Romans were fairly proficient in using their concrete domes. This is, this 448 00:40:34,680 --> 00:40:39,360 is all the question. Like this, this is the whole. Okay. Okay. That's the point. I'm sorry. 449 00:40:39,360 --> 00:40:47,800 I'm going to get a quiz. I need to go up 100% or else my ego will be wrecked. So fire engineering. 450 00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:56,240 What are you talking about? You know, the state of things have always, you know, three 451 00:40:56,240 --> 00:41:03,640 little things. You know, people have always signed to three little things. Although it 452 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:07,560 would have been more than that if you had. And so like the wing of the wing and the puffing. 453 00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:11,760 Fire engineering is newer than structural engineering. Correct. Mechanical engineering. 454 00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:17,520 And newer, way newer. Yeah. Electrical engineering. And way nearer. Yeah. A little bit nearer 455 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:23,560 than mechanical. So there is, like, you probably get the point. So structural engineering is 456 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:28,560 one of the oldest forms of engineering. And I'm saying this to you. I'm also saying this 457 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:31,640 to them, but like, you know, that's like, of course you know this. You're right. I can't 458 00:41:31,640 --> 00:41:39,040 say you're wrong. But it's dating back to the first instance of like, they consider 459 00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:44,240 it dating back to the first instance of the likes of tree branches being like, you know, 460 00:41:44,240 --> 00:41:49,120 lashed together. Form like shelter. It's like a form of structural engineering. And like, 461 00:41:49,120 --> 00:41:52,640 you know, when it kind of seemed that like comparison, I was just like, all I could think 462 00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:57,920 of was Winnie the Pooh and like Eeyore's like house and all. My boyfriend hates it 463 00:41:57,920 --> 00:42:02,480 when I say that structural engineers have to do their jobs right. Because if we don't, 464 00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:08,880 then people, you know. Yeah. Yeah. And if he makes a mistake, then people might be slightly 465 00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:15,600 cold. I know that that's not true. And I know it's not there. And I sit in the mechanical 466 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:22,440 team car. But you know, priorities. That's it. That is such a trump card as well. Like, 467 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:27,400 you know, yeah, you're like, I'm deciding if this building stands or not. OK, what 468 00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:33,720 are you doing? OK. Also, you know, a structural engineering course will totally let you know 469 00:42:33,720 --> 00:42:38,920 that like you'll be told from day one about instances like there was the hotel bridge. 470 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:44,280 I can't remember. I think it was in America where the bolt placement was out by two to 471 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:48,200 four mil. And it was like twice this year. And then the bolt collapsed. Like a hundred 472 00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:52,320 people. That wasn't good. And you get all this like weekly and just they're like, no 473 00:42:52,320 --> 00:42:59,080 pressure. But if you make a mistake, this is what happens. Wow. Like that is it's a 474 00:42:59,080 --> 00:43:04,760 lot of you know, you ever think about it like because you get that questions. That's one 475 00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:09,480 of the things in my email, like like my bunch of my emails. And you're like, I'm under pressure 476 00:43:09,480 --> 00:43:15,880 to answer this. Unlike, you know, like, you know, like need to answer this properly. Otherwise, 477 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:20,040 like you know, stuff's going to happen. There's going to be repercussions. Yeah. This is a 478 00:43:20,040 --> 00:43:27,400 little bit of an understandable girl. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, I hope you enjoy playing. 479 00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:31,240 Just sort of a title of it now. Okay. It's called If You Build It, It's Tons of Fun. 480 00:43:31,240 --> 00:43:37,640 You know, like if you build it, they will come like from feel the dreams. Yeah. So that 481 00:43:37,640 --> 00:43:42,800 might go over some people's heads, but that's fine. That's fine. Well, like, you know, 482 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:49,320 we're like, it makes sense. Yeah. Well, once they like, you know, one of the recommendations 483 00:43:49,320 --> 00:43:54,960 or like one of the links I'll put with this episode is like a link to like buying feel 484 00:43:54,960 --> 00:44:02,440 the dreams. So like, wonderful. Right. Yeah. Okay. So next question. So what is your, you've 485 00:44:02,440 --> 00:44:06,160 talked a lot about the projects you work on and all the different areas you're involved 486 00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:12,920 in. What's your favorite part of working on a project? Like it could be work focused or 487 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:20,040 more about your institute sides, like the iStraxE or the like STEM activities. But what 488 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:26,440 do you enjoy doing most? Working on a project. Like I love, I love working with people. So 489 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:32,360 generally the answer is just working with people and meeting new people. I'm a complete 490 00:44:32,360 --> 00:44:39,040 yapper. So talking to new people. But I came across on projects like I love when something 491 00:44:39,040 --> 00:44:47,280 isn't going right. If something isn't making sense, you have to like properly go right. 492 00:44:47,280 --> 00:44:51,280 What is going on here? And you need to break it apart. Just the problem solving aspect, 493 00:44:51,280 --> 00:44:54,600 which is what I loved about structures because it happened there. And it's what I love about 494 00:44:54,600 --> 00:44:58,400 life cycle assessments, because now and again, you get to the results, you've done weeks 495 00:44:58,400 --> 00:45:02,840 and weeks of collecting data from the design teams. You've been, you know, putting it into 496 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:05,640 the right format, you upload it all to the software. And then sometimes you look at the 497 00:45:05,640 --> 00:45:10,200 results and you're like, hmm. Yeah. You're like, wow. No, that's not, that's not quite 498 00:45:10,200 --> 00:45:14,480 right. You have to go through and you have to be like, right. What are my highest contributors? 499 00:45:14,480 --> 00:45:18,240 Does that make sense? Can I match it up with all the building elements? Does that make 500 00:45:18,240 --> 00:45:22,480 sense? How does this compare to the benchmarks? What's looking higher than it should be? I 501 00:45:22,480 --> 00:45:27,280 love that detective work. That's a detective work. That's like, you know, I'm kind of a, 502 00:45:27,280 --> 00:45:32,280 can I kind of say in the same way, I like an easy life. Okay. I do. I don't like that 503 00:45:32,280 --> 00:45:36,080 happening all the time. And again, just keep me on my toes. Yeah. Cause like you get to 504 00:45:36,080 --> 00:45:40,440 investigate and you feel like a proper like, why is this happening? Like, yeah, detective. 505 00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:45,920 I love detectives. Close as we're getting to spy work. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. Well, 506 00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:51,360 okay. Or that, that kind of brings us to the end of our questions. And kind of just say 507 00:45:51,360 --> 00:45:56,960 you've been absolutely fantastic to have on today's episode. See just before we go, do 508 00:45:56,960 --> 00:46:01,320 you have any advice for future prospective engineers who maybe you're looking to get 509 00:46:01,320 --> 00:46:06,960 into sustainability, structural or energy or any like, or even get involved in STEM 510 00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:13,520 activities? Yeah. Well, what I said before, if I get into know people and making connections, 511 00:46:13,520 --> 00:46:17,480 it really is important. The networking side of things, like people roll their eyes. And 512 00:46:17,480 --> 00:46:21,400 when I say networking, a couple of guys that I've talked to in the office are like, oh, 513 00:46:21,400 --> 00:46:27,080 that's my idea of, you know, I hate networking, but it is so important. And you, you find 514 00:46:27,080 --> 00:46:30,880 out that people are just people, you know, it's not a big scary corporation. They're 515 00:46:30,880 --> 00:46:35,160 all just people. And a lot of people are, they don't know everything, even if they 516 00:46:35,160 --> 00:46:41,760 seem like they do. Yeah. Everyone is, you know, coming to trailing water. Also, if we're 517 00:46:41,760 --> 00:46:48,080 talking about students who don't know what they want to get into, chill. Yeah. Just, 518 00:46:48,080 --> 00:46:54,600 just chill. Because I was so intent on finding the perfect career, you know, the perfect 519 00:46:54,600 --> 00:47:02,000 company. Yeah. But you know, people expect to get so much fulfillment from their career. 520 00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:08,280 Yeah, that's great. Like I find my career very fulfilling. I, you know, I really like 521 00:47:08,280 --> 00:47:13,360 my job. I really like what I do. But you know, if you're just coming into the industry, 522 00:47:13,360 --> 00:47:17,920 a job can just be a job. You can be a taster for something. You can go into a company and 523 00:47:17,920 --> 00:47:21,640 you can leave it and you can do something completely different. You know, I know so 524 00:47:21,640 --> 00:47:25,920 many people who, there's people on my team that started out as accountants. They're, 525 00:47:25,920 --> 00:47:31,080 they're, you know, we had mature students in our degree who just want, you know, they 526 00:47:31,080 --> 00:47:36,280 spent 20 years in one career and wanted to make the switch. And at the end of the day, 527 00:47:36,280 --> 00:47:41,040 if you do go into something and it is just work, it's allowed to be just work. Yeah. 528 00:47:41,040 --> 00:47:44,160 You can do that and you can test the waters and you can find other things. You can do 529 00:47:44,160 --> 00:47:48,960 some comments like I did. There's no right answer. You're not committing yourself to 530 00:47:48,960 --> 00:47:54,480 something for 50 years. So just take a plunge, do whatever you're interested in, learn more 531 00:47:54,480 --> 00:48:00,160 about it if you can, and then just try to enjoy it. And in terms of work life balance, 532 00:48:00,160 --> 00:48:03,880 concentrate on life. Because at the end of the day, that's what you'll probably live 533 00:48:03,880 --> 00:48:10,560 back on. That's, it's really good to hear it. Oh my goodness. Yeah. You've come up with 534 00:48:10,560 --> 00:48:16,000 such like great stuff. I'm like, it's cool to like, um, well like, so I'm just going 535 00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:21,200 to kind of sum up like what you've said. If you're not sure, just take a crack at it. 536 00:48:21,200 --> 00:48:27,600 Again, it's playing on the earlier crack on like, you know, yeah. Okay. Yeah. Brilliant. 537 00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:32,760 Brilliant. Okay. Well, brilliant. Well, hopefully be back on like, you know, if you'll, if you're 538 00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:39,720 willing to come back on, because yes, very informative, but thank you. Thank you so much. 539 00:48:39,720 --> 00:48:43,800 Thanks for listening to Carbon Climates. If you follow us on Instagram at carbon underscore 540 00:48:43,800 --> 00:48:51,080 climates and keep up to date with all our latest news, um, so it uploads and, um, anything 541 00:48:51,080 --> 00:48:57,800 else we post just, you know, concrete related puns. That's what we're going to do. Okay. 542 00:48:57,800 --> 00:49:13,800 Thanks for listening. Bye. Thank you. Bye.