| Young professionals
Swiss Committee on Dams Carolin Friz, Student President, Young Professionals of Swiss Dams
The Young Professionals section of the Swiss Committee on Dams was formed in March 2019. It is open to those under the age of 35 and currently has about 60 members – 25% of the entire Swiss Committee on Dams. As with other national committees of ICOLD, the YP group’s objectives are to encourage the participation and involvement of young professionals and promote the transfer of knowledge to the younger generation Some of its notable successes include former YP members now heading national committee working groups, while YPs were among winners of the Swiss Dams annual award for outstanding Master theses related to dams. It has also been building bridges between languages within Switzerland, promoting the exchange between different parts of Switzerland and with other YP groups, such as Germany and Austria. As the industry changes and faces new challenges, YP groups will become even more important over time as young professionals will bring fresh ideas and new approaches that are crucial for progress. These groups help bridge the gap between experienced and newer members, and their role in promoting innovation and adapting to new technologies will keep growing.
Above: 12th ICOLD European Club Symposium Interlaken, Sep. 2023
Supporting young professionals now will pay off in the future as they drive future advancements and address upcoming challenges in the field. This is of particular relevance in Switzerland, where the Swiss recently accepted the new electricity law to secure electricity supply from renewable energy sources. Hydropower is the main energy source in
Switzerland, contributing about 58 % to total production with plans to increase. Considering that most dams were constructed in the 1950s and 70s, a great deal of experience among dam engineers has been developed that now
Above: Carolin Friz, Student President Young Professionals Swiss Dams
needs to be transferred to younger generations. Indeed, in order to maintain and rehabilitate existing hydro facilities, a great level of expertise is needed for tomorrow’s engineers, and this is where young professional groups help to ensure that knowledge transfer. There are various ways that young
professionals can be supported in the industry. For example:
Companies should encourage young professionals to participate in young professional groups (of different kinds). Companies should be willing to invest/ fund YPs participation in events, such as excursions, seminar series, technical days, workshops.
Companies should think of giving more days for further education for young professionals that also keeps young people staying within the company and contributing. Knowledge transfer is big issue and needs to be encouraged with workshops (inside a company).
Left and above: Excursion to the Linth Limmern pumped storage hydropower scheme; inside the galleries, Dec. 2023
Above: Young Professionals gathering, Bern, 2024
Above: Young Professionals meeting in Locarno, June 2024
Above and right: Excursion to Spittallamm construction site and new low level outlet, Aug. 2024
www.waterpowermagazine.com | September 2024 | 41
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
