Young professionals |
Empowering the next generation
IWP&DC asked members of the industry to share their views on the importance of encouraging young professionals within the sector
International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) Young Professionals Network
The IAHR Young Professionals Network was formed to help young professionals build and nurture their career, targeting those under 35 years old in the early stage of their working life. Joining the IAHR Young Professional Network (YPN) means becoming part of a network of around 2500 young professionals from all over the world, with more than 56 YPNs in 31 different countries. Its aim is to ensure that new generations of future hydro-environment professionals and researchers have the opportunity to engage in IAHR activities, network and connect with peers and senior IAHR members, receive mentoring and support, and get access to the latest knowledge, information and know-how in the early stage of their careers. Other opportunities include active participation in IAHR technical committees,
working groups and projects, helping to address the world’s most pressing water challenges. There are also free and/or discounted subscriptions to journals, books, proceedings and access to the IAHR e-library, plus the chance to take part in IAHR events and attend webinars specially designed for young professionals (addressing how to write a good paper, how to best approach paper writing, etc.) IAHR YPNs also include a series of successful
initiatives such as the annual IAHR Young Professionals Congress, the Professionals Challenge, a webinar series and the IAHR Water Jobs Offers. There is also an extensive list of awards tailored to young professionals such as the John F. Kennedy Student Paper Competition Award, the IAHR Gerhard Jirka Award for Young Researchers, and the Stephen
New Zealand Society on Large Dams (NZSOLD) Shreesh Basnyat, Young Professionals Group Co-Chair
The NZSOLD Young Professionals Group was formed in 2015 and those under 40 years of age in the New Zealand dams industry can join. It currently has around 420 members and organises learning, development and networking events, and participates in organisations management committee meetings to represent Young Professionals. The aim of the group is to support learning, development and networking opportunities for Young Professionals in New Zealand’s dams
industry. Transfer of knowledge is promoted through sharing of experience and knowledge via webinars, conferences and symposiums. This year our annual field trip visited a hydro scheme in Tauranga and the tailings dam at a gold mine. As well as holding photo and poster competitions, organising symposiums and networking events, we recently held a webinar to share experience of dam construction by Young Professionals in New Zealand. I believe that the role of such groups
E. Coleman Best Paper Award for Young Researchers
IAHR believes that YPN members represent the backbone of the future IAHR and play an important role within the association through their activities and initiatives. It is an active and ever-growing network, with the creation of a new YPN in India called “IAHR Southern-India Young Professional Network (IAHR SI YPN)” standing as testament to this. IAHR says that Young Professionals will be part of a thought-leading global community working together for a better and sustainable water future for all, and join a new generation of future hydro-environment professionals and researchers to make a real difference. For more details contact Sally Feng at
membership@iahr.org
Right: Shreesh Basnyat, Young Professionals Group Co-Chair, NZSOLD
Above: NZSOLD’s Young Professionals group recently took part in a field trip to a tailings dam 38 | September 2024 |
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will grow in importance and evolve in the future, especially with the gap between the experienced professionals in the dam industry and young professionals. The demand will be there to grow and develop the next generation. Other ways to support young professionals would be direct mentoring, providing scholarships and the presence of the dams industry in open days at universities to encourage interest of students. NZSOLD is currently doing some of these but there are opportunities to improve. For more details see
https://nzsold.org.nz/ committee/young-professionals-group/
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