Mining Is Us: Geotechnical Engineer

Summary

Carolina Navia Vasquez, a geotechnical engineer, shares her passion for her career in mining, where she works to prevent mountain collapses and ensure safety. She advises students to 'love what you do' and highlights the importance of leadership and teamwork. Inspired by her high school lessons on solving problems together, Carolina enjoys both the technical and collaborative aspects of her job. Her role allows her to work globally, and she emphasizes mining’s critical impact on daily life, while also promoting the inclusivity of the field for both men and women.

Takeaways

• 😀 Love what you do, especially if you want to make a positive impact in the world.
• 😀 Geotechnical engineers play a crucial role in preventing mountain collapses and ensuring safety in mining operations.
• 😀 The primary goal is to predict and prevent failures, focusing on equipment and personnel safety.
• 😀 Leadership and teamwork are important lessons learned in high school and are vital in engineering careers.
• 😀 A passion for working with people and creating new solutions led the speaker to pursue engineering.
• 😀 Collaboration with technicians is key in monitoring equipment and ensuring field operations run smoothly.
• 😀 Fieldwork is vital for seeing reality and conducting inspections, where geotechnical engineers observe and assess conditions.
• 😀 Using radar and monitoring equipment helps track movements and assess potential risks in the field.
• 😀 The speaker enjoys learning from others, staying open-minded, and exploring different roles within the industry.
• 😀 Mining is a physically and mentally demanding field but offers opportunities globally, with work available in diverse locations.
• 😀 Mining is an essential industry that significantly impacts daily life, and both men and women are welcome to contribute.

Q & A

What is the main advice Carolina Navia Vasquez gives to students?

She advises students to love what they do, as it is the key to success and fulfillment in any career.

What is Carolina Navia Vasquez's role as a geotechnical engineer?

Her job is to keep the mountain from falling while ensuring safety in mining operations, which involves predicting and preventing failures.

What is one of the main objectives in Carolina's job?

One of the main objectives is to keep everyone safe, including miners and equipment, by predicting and preventing potential failures.

What did Carolina learn in high school that influenced her career?

She learned to be a leader, guide others, solve problems together, and work as a team.

What motivated Carolina to become an engineer?

She always knew she wanted to be an engineer because she loves working with people and creating new things.

What role do technicians play in Carolina's work?

Technicians help monitor equipment in the field, which is crucial for ensuring safety and the smooth operation of the mining process.

What aspect of her job does Carolina enjoy the most?

She enjoys going to the field, where she can see the reality of the operations and conduct necessary inspections.

What kind of monitoring equipment is used in Carolina's work?

Carolina uses radars and other monitoring equipment in the field to detect movements in the slopes or walls that could indicate a potential failure.

What does Carolina appreciate about her career in engineering?

She loves learning from different people, being open to new ideas, and working in various departments to gain a well-rounded perspective.

What is one of the benefits of working in extractive mining, according to Carolina?

A major benefit is that mining is a global industry, allowing engineers to work anywhere in the world, whether in the US, China, or Colombia.