Q: What “day to day” type activities that you do?
Like many people, COVID threw my research plans upside-down, so most of my initial activity was the analysis of earth observation and other existing spatial data from the comfort of home. As we emerge from COVID lockdowns, I will be spending more time collecting data in the field to compare against remotely sensed data.
Q: What pathway did you take to get into the research?
I took the scenic route to research via finance and economics roles in other sectors, before rekindling my love of science as a mature-age undergraduate and now postgraduate student. Although I had other areas of science in mind when I returned to university, I was drawn to bushfire research like a moth to, ahem, a flame.
Q: How will your work impact real world management decisions?
My research may contribute to better characterisation of fuels and improve the accuracy of inputs to fire models that are used in bushfire management planning and response.
Q: Does your scholarship cover your living expenses?
What is this scholarship you speak of? As a parent, and with a bank manager to take care of (i.e. paying a mortgage), I am still working to cover living expenses. I’m lucky that my supervisor has been understanding of the challenges that this, along with COVID and other curve-balls, have presented to my studies.
Q: What is one thing to look for in a supervisor?
Openness to your ideas and interests.
