Machine learning, data analysis, statistics, and environmental science skills were all put to the test recently as University of Queensland students joined the Gas & Energy Transition Research Centre to gain hands-on experience on energy transition research projects.
The undergraduate students joined the Centre as part of the Winter Research Program, which leverages UQ's many faculties, institutes and centres to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience working on real research projects.
The Gas & Energy Transition Research Centre consistently particpates in the Program and provides undergraduate students with unique experiences in the energy and resource sectors, as well as opportunities to further develop analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Saakshi Gupta - Engineering (Software Engineering)
“At the Centre I developed a software tool for tracking and analysing trends of new project development, which is crucial for understanding the dynamics of our energy transition,” Saakshi said.
“I worked extensively with AEMO's datasets, which are incredibly rich but also complex, and did a mix of data preprocessing, analysis, extraction, and visualisation. I also developed algorithms to clean and structure the data, making it suitable for our analysis and used various machine learning techniques to uncover patterns and make predictions.”
“This project has been a transformative experience for me. Applying what I learned in the classroom to real-world data has been very rewarding.”
Elliot Lee - Engineering / Computer Science
“I have always been interested in creating things and researching specific topics that interest me, such as the statistical analysis of data and its practical use. As a mechatronics engineering student, I am also interested in the automation of many things, from data analysis to robotics automation,” Elliot said.
“At the Centre, I conducted a statistical analysis on the relationship between residential gas demand and temperature in the East Coast states of Australia. I explored how those relationships changed over time, seasonal differences and how trends vary between different states. Understanding the relationship between weather and all components of the energy system is a key focus of the Centre’s work, becoming critical as our dependence on renewable energy generation grows.”
“Overall, the experience has been very positive and enjoyable and the process in reaching a valid conclusion to the research task proposed.”
Nafis Azizi Riza - Computer Science
“I’m passionate about leveraging my programming, analytical, and quantitative skills to create impactful solutions, and I enjoy applying these technical abilities to diverse challenges, as I’ve done at the Centre,” Nafis said.
“At the Centre, I worked on improving the wind power uncertainty analysis using various machine learning techniques. The project aimed to enhance the calibration of wind power models against benchmark data, contributing to more accurate modelling of long-term wind power generation potential.”
“It was incredibly rewarding! I’ve applied my machine learning, programming, and quantitative data analysis skills to real world context, while also learning about energy systems which are new to me. The main highlights were everyone being so welcoming and getting to collaborate with brilliant and humble engineers.”
Hannah Pickett - Chemical Engineering / Ecology and Conservation Biology
“My research investigated the possible effects that carbon capture in the Great Artesian Basin can have on the chemical and isotopic composition of bore water – the life blood of the Australian outback,” Hannah said.
“Having the privilege to work with such experienced researchers on a concept that is so relevant to Australians and so naturally intertwined with the Chemical Engineering Industry has been beyond educational.”
“Besides the fact that it is greatly involved in the resources sector, my interest in Chemical Engineering focuses highly on the ability to improve processes for environmental benefit.”
“I have improved my analytical techniques and logical reasoning while progressing through my research as well utilizing my communication skills to have professional discussions that cement my knowledge of water quality and sampling.”
If you are interested in working with the Centre under UQ's Winter and Summer Research Programs, keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities on this page.
