Caption: EWB ACT Chapter Member, Eve Visser, gliding with the Richmond Gliding Club.
As a high school student, Eve Visser was told by a career advisor that she shouldn’t consider university. However, Eve was determined not to let this dissuade her. She took it as added motivation, going on to receive a scholarship to study at the Australian National University (ANU).
Currently in her third year studying Engineering and Science with a major in Climate Science, Eve is passionate about sharing her experiences and knowledge with prospective students. This interest in outreach inspired her to start volunteering with EWB’s ACT Chapter, running workshops to encourage students to pursue a path in engineering.
Path toward engineering
During high school, Eve always liked science and had friends who were considering studying engineering. However, it was only at university that she really got a clear sense of what engineering was like as a field and future career path.
Eve is now in her third year of study and is living university life to the fullest, juggling a job as a receptionist in college along with volunteer work with EWB and as an ANU student ambassador.
A priority for Eve was to make the most of university by getting involved in extracurriculars, following the advice she received from her mother, who stressed that university was important not only for academic work but for getting involved in clubs and making friends.
“I’ve been trying to do everything I can while I’m here.”
Highlights with EWB
EWB ACT Chapter members during a Regioneering trip on the south coast of NSW.
Eve began volunteering with EWB’s ACT Chapter in her first year at university after hearing about EWB’s outreach program, which sparked her interest.
Eve’s first outreach trip was to the south coast of NSW, which involved visiting two or three schools every day and running workshops. The focus of the trip was encouraging students to consider engineering as a career path, and specifically humanitarian engineering, which students may not have been aware of.
A highlight of the trip was a workshop with homeschooled students, which Eve says was a valuable opportunity to see how the students learned and how this differs from traditional schooling. This workshop was a change from the usual style, run in a backyard with 10-15 students of varying ages.
Eve also participated in the ACT Chapter’s Local Design Summit earlier this year, visiting a native grain farm in Yass. This was an exciting and informative opportunity for her to learn more about the native grain industry and the principles of sustainable community development. She found it valuable to see different ways of working with the land, acknowledging its local characteristics and drawing on Indigenous knowledge to improve farming practices.
For Eve, a highlight of volunteering with EWB is meeting the people in her Chapter, and being inspired and guided by what they’re doing.
“I love seeing what they’re doing with their degrees, the projects they’re doing and the things they’re involved in.”
Outreach and advice
Reflecting on her own experiences, Eve stresses the importance of role models and guidance when following a path in engineering. She says that knowing an engineer or engineering student would have been a great help for her, and that their advice would be invaluable.
This belief drives Eve’s volunteer work, which focuses on outreach and connecting with high school students who may be thinking about studying engineering.
As well as volunteering with EWB, Eve is an ANU student ambassador, contributing to outreach for schools around Canberra and working on open days and outreach programs aimed at high school students.
Eve volunteering with the Engineering Student Association (ESA) at ANU’s Market Day.Eve encourages aspiring students to learn more about the field, keep up their maths and technical skills and persevere with a path in engineering.
“If you’re thinking of it, don’t let anyone tell you no.”
About the ‘Futur-neers’ program: This series is funded by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources through the ‘Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship’ grant program. The program focuses on deeper support and amplification of EWB’s Youth Outreach volunteer network, with a particular focus on empowering women in engineering.
To read about our other incredible ‘Futur-neer’ role models in the EWB Chapter network, click here.