National Science Week is Australia's annual celebration of science and technology.
From discovering and documenting invasive species to using state-of-the-art equipment to combat bushfires, science and technology is key to everything we do.
This year we're putting some of our newest recruits, our graduate officers and cadets, under the microscope to find out what they do and why they love doing it.
Find out more about Kayleigh, Tegan and Olivia's science journey below.
Kayleigh Horner, Graduate Officer
Graduate Officer Kayleigh Horner
Kayleigh has a Bachelor of Science (Ecology and Zoology) from the University of Tasmania. She continued on to study Honours in Zoology with a project in conservation genetics of a threatened Tasmanian species. She applied to work at NRE Tas while studying Honours.Her current role involves project planning and delivery at PWS and she says it's crucial to plan carefully around maintaining and enhancing our natural and cultural values.
Kayleigh has recently been involved in the planning of the Improving Disability Access Program, helping to improve accessibility in Tasmanian parks and reserves. She particularly loves working towards a more inclusive environment in our parks and believes everyone should be able to experience our beautiful natural places.
Kayleigh enjoyed studying science in school and eventually found a love for ecology during her university years. The more she explored and learned about Tasmania's ecological communities, the clearer it became that she wanted to work in this area.
In her time with the department, she has discovered an incredibly broad and diverse range of opportunities which fuel her excitement to continue working here and to explore other areas.
Olivia Murray, Cadet
Graduate Officer Olivia Murray
Olivia has always been passionate about working in the environmental field and is currently studying a Bachelor of Science (Geography and Environmental Studies) at the University of Tasmania.
She is working within the PWS Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) Biosecurity Team. It's a varied placement that includes developing weed treatment plans, conducting desktop assessments, researching weed species and uploading data into the Natural Values Atlas.
Olivia also assists the regional biosecurity officers with mapping and controlling weeds in their areas, investigating potential pest incursions, and contributing to the TWWHA Deer Program. The diversity of tasks ensures that no two days are the same, which she greatly enjoys.
Having grown up outdoors, Olivia developed a love for exploring the bush and discovering beautiful places, which naturally led her toward pursuing a science-based field.
She says she's continually struck by the vast reach of the department, the diversity of its work, and the breadth of areas it covers.
Tegan Carins, Cadet
Tegan is currently studying a Bachelor of Science, which is what opened the door to her cadetship with NRE Tas.
She notes that no two days are quite the same as a cadet. In her current placement, she's spent time in the field as a poppy and hemp field officer in North-West Tasmania, as well as working on various projects providing data analysis, developing communication resources and preparing project documentation.
Growing up on a farm in a rural area gave Tegan a real appreciation for looking after land and resources. She has always loved being outdoors. Paired with her curiosity about how things work, a career in science just felt like a natural fit.
Tegan says she's been surprised and impressed by just how interconnected the department is; not only between different teams, but also through the strong links it has with industry and the wider community.
She feels lucky to combine her background growing up in a rural area and her interest in science with the opportunities the cadetship has offered. Tegan says it's been rewarding to work in roles that align with her interests and values, and she's excited to keep building on that and learn from others.