Ricardo STEM professionals inspire young scientists and engineers to THRIVE

Two of Ricardo’s leading science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) professionals in Australia have been helping to inspire secondary school pupils to become the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Dr Jessica Bohorquez, a Senior Consultant in our Water Practice, one of the Australian Government’s Superstars of STEM and current Ricardo Jo Elgood Inspiring Woman in STEM award holder, together with Jorge Martin Gistau, Manager Sustainable Transport, Australia and New Zealand, recently took part in a Career Panel as part of THRIVE Week at Brighton Secondary School in Adelaide, Australia. They shared their experiences as STEM professionals, providing valuable insights into the future job climate in STEM fields. Responding to great questions by the students Jessica and Jorge discussed work environments and necessary educational backgrounds and offered practical advice on how the students could best pursue their interests in these areas.

In addition to the panel, Jessica collaborated with the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Adelaide to deliver an interactive workshop to Year 11 and Year 12 students. The ‘Aqualibrium’ activity was created to enhance students' understanding of critical issues in water management and engineering, emphasising the practical applications of their STEM education. Encouraging problem-solving and creative thinking, during this hands-on activity students are asked to design their own water network introducing students to design thinking, iterations and the importance of infrastructure resilience. 

Both activities underscore Ricardo's essential role in inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. As a company of scientists, engineers and technologists, Ricardo is committed to ensuring that current and future generations can inspire, support and learn from each other.  Our STEM charity programme is open to all our teams at Ricardo across all our global locations, and our teams are encouraged and supported to get involved with volunteering so they can see and experience the positive impacts they can deliver.

As experienced and frequent STEM volunteers, by sharing their real-world experiences and engaging students in practical workshops, Jessica and Jorge demonstrated the exciting possibilities within STEM careers. Their efforts provided valuable knowledge and motivated students to explore and pursue their passions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.