In Conversation with:
Sandi Ndebele
What inspired you to pursue a college course in engineering?
I think i was always interested in how things worked. To be able to explain how an engine works or how a building stands up or how a plane flies.
Those were the sorts of topics that got me excited in school. Engineering seemed like a good place to go and explore that interest and maybe turn it into a career.
Was there a good focus on STEM in your school in Mullingar?
My school was very much a music and performing arts school but i always found my physics, chemistry and maths classes to be engaging.
It was good to hear in your Vlog that you like the creative aspect of your work..What led you specifically to process engineering ands what does that involve?
Being a process engineer means you’re responsible for what is essentially your own large scale chemistry set i.e. making sure it operates safely and efficiently.
That means coming up with clever solutions to problems as they come up and making improvements as you go. It requires quite a bit of imagination for example when problem solving.
When things go wrong they tend to go wrong in weird and interesting ways.
What has been the most interesting aspect of your third level studies so far?
I think one of my favourite parts of my third level studies was the projects. I’ve had to program robots, build heart and lung machines and design entire production plants.
My Master’s project involved developing my own process from concept to computer simulation to lab testing.
It was really fun to come up with ideas and bring them from my head to a working process in a lab.
What does the future hold for you career wise in a perfect world post pandemic?
My goal for the near future in my career is to develop my technical knowledge as an engineer.
I learned a lot during my time in college and i’m excited to use the things i’ve learned and develop new skills as i move through different roles.
What advice would you give to a young person still at school who is considering a future in science or engineering?
The main thing i would say is to follow your interests. Science and engineering are such broad fields that you’re bound to find something you’re interested in.
Being curious and fascinated about your field makes you an infinitely better scientist or engineer.
