About my work
I am a Kamilaroi woman with my traditional lands being around Lightning Ridge near Walgett, however I grew up in Dungog in NSW. I have just completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in environmental science at UTS and am now embarking on a Masters by Research in the field of plant flammability and Indigenous cultural fire practices.
I believe that there is a direct connection with environmental science and Indigenous knowledge. Indigenous peoples have a deep knowledge and understanding of the environment that western science is only just beginning to recognise. In my research I want to incorporate Indigenous knowledge not as something that is separate to science but an intrinsic part of the science in understanding flammability and fire within the Australian landscape.
A memorable win
The first couple of semesters at UTS, especially with a few of the harder subjects such as chemistry, statistics and physics, were difficult for me – but rewarding! I am the first person in my family to go to university so the most rewarding aspect of my studies for me is just being able to learn about science and nature. It is something that I am passionate about and that has the potential to really help people and the environment.
My advice for anyone thinking about doing Maths or Science would be to not be afraid to seek help when you need it. UTS has really great places and people to seek support from, such as the lecturers, your laboratory demonstrators, tutoring services, and a few subjects offer extra study classes that are really helpful so definitely enrol in them.
Bio: My dad and the small rural town where I grew up inspired me to be curious about nature and to study science. Dungog relies on the land around it to support the community, with the increasing threat of climate change impacting our environment, I want to be able to make a positive contribution towards how climate change will impact communities and the environment. I will use my knowledge to help communities like mine, be more resilient to bush fires, climate change, and to cope with the increasing environmental issues that impact our world.
Websites
Journal article: ‘An Integrated Approach to Identify Low-Flammability Plant Species for Green Firebreaks’ https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/3/2/9/htm
I am the first person in my family to go to university so the most rewarding aspect of my studies for me is just being able to learn about science and nature. It is something that I am passionate about and that has the potential to really help people and the environment. – Molly Wallace, Masters by Research, FEIT