RMIT Chemical Engineering Graduate Tackles Climate Change with a Vision for Regenerative Farming

Lucinda, a recent RMIT Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Business Management graduate, shares her journey from arts to engineering, her capstone experience in Indonesia, and her commitment to climate action and sustainable policy.

Lucinda’s university experience took her across disciplines and continents, each step fueling her passion for tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development. What began as an Arts degree and a student exchange program to Indonesia evolved into a commitment to chemical engineering and a focus on renewable energy and climate-conscious agriculture.

“Switching to chemical engineering came naturally after my exchange program in Indonesia, where I was exposed to the incredible work in renewable energy and sustainable development,” Lucinda recalls.

I saw the role that engineers, particularly chemical engineers, played, and I realised that STEM careers were leading the charge in making change and tackling issues like the transition to renewables and climate change as a whole.

Lucinda on her transformative exchange experience in Indonesia.

Following the 2020 bushfires, Lucinda decided to pivot her career towards chemical engineering. This led her back to Indonesia for her capstone project, where she applied her engineering expertise to a renewable energy project.

“It’s been a really nice full-circle moment,” she says.

“I got to work on a topic I’m genuinely passionate about, experience a new country and culture, and work with an amazing in-country industry partner.”

Lucinda’s passion also extends to agricultural policy, where she hopes to influence change through her policy proposal, focused on regenerative farming practices and agroecology.

“I would love for domestic agricultural policy to recognise the fantastic work currently being done domestically and internationally, and for the momentum to continue and be enshrined in policy,” she says, citing the importance of Indigenous knowledge, topsoil safeguarding, and equitable practices in sustainable farming.

(L) Lucinda after winning the YourMelbourne competition in 2022 (R) At the World Food Forum.

Throughout her studies, Lucinda credits her professors at RMIT for their unyielding support.

“I thank my chem professors Dr. Nevena Todorova, Dr. Linhua Fan, and Dr. Ken Chiang for encouraging me to keep putting my hand up for new opportunities,” she shares.

“Without their support, I wouldn’t have been able to partake in all the opportunities RMIT and life have had to offer.”

Lucinda’s university years were also filled with various RMIT-affiliated initiatives. From winning YourMelbourne in 2022 to becoming an Engineers Australia Ambassador and receiving the Joint Victorian Chemical Engineering Committee Penultimate Year Prize in 2023, she embraced every opportunity.

Give absolutely everything a go! Time management is key! You can make friends by joining clubs and going into campus.

Lucinda joined other RMIT students at FounderHUB, a program used to support founders in shaping their ideas into a viable business.

Now, as she steps into the chemical engineering field, Lucinda feels a clear sense of purpose and confidence.

“I am going to study a Portuguese language intensive at the University of Coimbra over the summer holidays, and visit my family there as well. Afterwards, I join the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action as a Science Policy Grad in Feb,” she says.

“I’m excited to be involved in a sector that I care about and know I’ll be able to contribute meaningfully to.”

With her experiences at RMIT and beyond, Lucinda is ready to make an impact on the world—one sustainable policy at a time.

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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