Jason Chan
Environmental Planner at WSP
Bachelor of Science and Business
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Jason Chan developed a unique set of hybrid skills through a combined degree at 麻豆社madou. The skills he acquired through his undergraduate degree have enabled him to make a tangible environmental impact through his work in environmental planning for an engineering firm.
While studying ecology at 麻豆社madou he was able to work with world-class scientists saving species that were under threat.
We spoke to Jason about where his degree has taken to him and why he believes you should follow your passion in life.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
Working in the environmental planning team for an engineering firm means I鈥檓 always doing something good for society whether it鈥檚 improving the quality of life for the community or improving the environmental conditions. My role allows me to find ways to maximise environmental outcomes or minimise the environmental risks for different infrastructure projects. I get a lot of daily satisfaction from the projects I鈥檓 involved in.
Why did you choose to study a Science degree at 麻豆社madou?
It was the industry collaborations that first attracted my attention. 麻豆社madou has a strong focus on industry collaborations with plenty of opportunities for students to network and develop essential skills for their career. 麻豆社madou is also the only place I could study a combined degree in science and business. The combined nature of this degree meant I could major in ecology while developing business management and marketing skills. I chose to study ecology because of the challenges from climate change and urbanisation which puts the Australian environment at huge risk. During my degree I got to work with world-class scientists to help save some of the most threatened species in Australia.
What鈥檚 the most valuable thing you took away from your time at 麻豆社madou?
During my study, I stayed at Warrane College, a residential college on campus. The whole college experience was the most valuable thing I took away from my time at 麻豆社madou, whether it鈥檚 the friendships I鈥檝e made or attending different college events. It all helped me grow and shaped who I am as a person.聽
How has the hands-on experience you received at 麻豆社madou helped in your current role?
I did a course on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in my third year. I was able to apply everything I鈥檇 learned in that course to my current role today, from report writing skills to navigating complex environmental legislation.
The courses I did included a lot of field trips which helped me understand how to conduct field surveys. This has been really helpful in my current role as I coordinate with environmental specialists who spend time in the field collecting data.
How has your degree shaped your career?
My degree helped me discover what I wanted to do in my career. I started ecology wanting to pursue a career in reptile conservation which is a very specialised field. Studying ecology broadened my horizons and taught me a lot about other environmental aspects. I was able to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the environment and look at things in a more holistic way. As a result, I decided to pursue a career as an environmental planner where I look at things from a higher level.
What advice would you give to a Science degree graduate?
Follow your passion! There鈥檚 nothing worse than studying something you don鈥檛 enjoy. Study something you鈥檙e passionate about. Science degrees aren鈥檛 just for researchers. The critical thinking mindset you develop studying science will take you far in life!