Networking and Mentoring Event: Embracing Gender Equity and Diversity
We are delighted to announce a special networking and mentoring event focused on strengthening diversity and gender equity in IAHR, as part of River Flow 2024. The event will take place on 3 September 2024 at 5pm, in Room 2.06, Student Life Building.
Our goal is to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds to share their stories, challenges, successes, and experiences through 7-minute presentations, followed by a Q&A session. By sharing these stories, we aim to inspire others, raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities related to diversity and gender equity and contribute to creating a more inclusive and representative community within IAHR. This event will foster a vibrant and inclusive environment where neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals from different ethnicities, ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds can come together and enhance our collective ability to work effectively in diverse settings.
The session will serve as an invaluable opportunity for us all to learn from others' experiences, share our own insights, and connect with potential mentors and peers. We encourage participation from all members of the IAHR community who are passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in our field.
For more information on IAHR's strategy and Task Force current and past events and activities, please visit the IAHR website. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact RF2024@ljmu.ac.uk.
We look forward to your participation!
Schedule
5pm: Drinks and nibbles
5.20pm: Introduction, overview of the scope and objectives (Prof Amparo Lopez)
5.30pm: Reflection of thought: Addressing the Primary Diversity Challenge in Gender Equity (Dr Kamalini Devi)
My Journey in Science and Engineering: From Barcelona to Vancouver, Academia to Consulting (Dr Blanca Marin Esteve)
Working in Japanese unique culture as foreign-young professional (Amalia Wijayanti)
Interrelationships in the Workplace (Prof Rita F. Carvalho)
6pm: Q&A session and Discussions
6.30pm: Networking
Speakers
Prof Amparo López Jiménez
Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain
Prof Amparo López Jiménez is Full Professor of Hydraulic Engineering and Director of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Environment at Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, in Spain. Her specialty is the numerical modelling of behaviour of hydraulic machinery, particularly the analysis of pumps functioning as turbines for hydraulic peak-production. Furthermore, she is very involved in projects related to the proposal of sustainability indicators in water distribution networks and the application in real water distribution systems. Prof López Jiménez will co-ordinate the event.
Dr Kamalini Devi
Assistant Professor, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, 
Hyderabad, India
Reflection of thought: Addressing the Primary Diversity Challenge in Gender Equity
We are mostly identified according to our name, position, community, religion, popularity or nationality. If we closely analyse, these identities may render the recognition of a person acquired after birth. However, the primary thing before getting its own name comes gender and before gender, we all are human beings. This is the most important thing to be realised during our existence on the earth. One point can further be noted that we are recognised by the countries we took birth or stay in, but all countries are the small parts of the same land that is Our Globe, so we are the global citizens. So, realisation of the two things, firstly we are human beings and we are global citizens make us very easy living. If we honestly accept it with a clear and broader mind set, then serenity flows into our daily lives. Technically, we acquire the name and fame based on our own potential and efforts which may independently vary from person to person. This recognition arrives from the individual freedom of choices and that is due to the beauty of our creative intellects. These differences in the minds made the world colourful to stay in.
The most typical thing which is considered as the king of a human life is its own thought which can create hell out of heaven and heaven out of hell. If the mind is calm, clean and clear it can create positive thoughts and correct responses to the external situation. The opposite is truer that a cluttered mind cannot give a productive output. So, the very crucial thing in this human body is to consciously create the good thoughts disregard to the external situation. In our whole world, each kind of misery whether it's a small fight in relationship or a larger one between countries, it starts from the vicious thoughts. The population count shows the exact number of different minds in the world. If it can be regulated and diverted in a direction to think of a better world, then wonders will be achieved.
Once this possible state of mind is achieved, then acceptance of the huge contribution made by the opposite gender in each field such as in scientific inventions, engineering, medical industry, military expertise, literature and philosophy can be heartily realised. Because we all are interdependent whether it's opposite gender, different professionals or different creatures. Giving Freedom and coordinating the opposite gender indirectly help us to get the highest freedom of mind and live a blissful life. So, the optimum equality between the genders can be possible with the highest state of purified mind of universal acceptance, respect and cooperation to the opposite gender.
Dr Blanca Marin-Esteve
Water Resources Scientist, BGC Engineering, Canada
My Journey in Science and Engineering: From Barcelona to Vancouver, Academia to Consulting
The talk delves into the challenges of diversity in STEM fields, exploring the subtle biases and cultural barriers that persist despite efforts to increase representation. Dr Marin-Esteve shares personal experiences with gender equity, highlighting the cumulative impact of various biases and societal narratives that can marginalize women and minorities in science. The importance of mentorship, both from female role models and supportive male allies, is emphasized as crucial for fostering inclusivity. The talk also addresses the ongoing battle with impostor syndrome, reflecting on its impact on self-perception and career progression, and the strategies to overcome it.
Drawing from her own experiences, the speaker offers insights on promoting diversity in science and engineering, discussing active strategies she employs to create a more inclusive environment in their current role as a consultant. Additionally, the ongoing battle with impostor syndrome is addressed, reflecting on how it affects self-perception and career progression, and the strategies employed to combat it.
Amalia Wijayanti
Mitsui Consultants Co. Ltd., 
Hydrology and Hydraulic Department, Japan
Working in Japanese unique culture as foreign-young professional
As an early career engineer specialising in flood modelling, flood forecasting, and disaster risk reduction, Amalia Wijayanti has had the opportunity to work on projects in diverse regions such as Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Senegal. These experiences have provided her with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in flood management across various socio-economic and environmental contexts. Her passion lies in enhancing flood management in developing countries and data-scarce regions, contributing to resilient and adaptive strategies tailored to local needs.
Amalia's talk will offer a personal account of her experiences as an Indonesian professional navigating the Japanese work environment. The talk will begin by highlighting the stark contrasts between work cultures in Japan and Indonesia, setting the stage for the challenges she has faced. She will then delve into her journey of adapting to Japan's monocultural workplace, addressing the cultural nuances she has had to learn. The talk will examine Japanese work culture, comparing common stereotypes with the realities she has encountered first-hand. A significant portion of her talk will be dedicated to discussing the notorious overtime work culture in Japan, offering her perspective as a non-Japanese employee. She will also share her strategies for managing stress, particularly in dealing with foreign language anxiety, a common issue she has faced as an expatriate in Japan. The talk will conclude by discussing her personal journey towards feeling included and developing a sense of belonging in a work environment that initially felt alien to her. Through this comprehensive exploration, the talk will provide valuable insights for other young professionals considering a career in Japan, drawing from Amalia's own experiences and observations.
Prof Rita F. Carvalho
Civil Engineering Department of University of Coimbra, 
Portugal
MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (part of ARNET – Aquatic Research Network)
Interrelationships in the Workplace
The talk will delve into the complexities of workplace organisation and leadership selection, exploring various factors that influence these processes. It will examine how gender and individual differences impact organisational structures and leadership choices, considering both overt and subtle influences. The discussion will then move to the importance of interrelationships and regular meetings in fostering a cohesive work environment. A significant portion of the talk will be dedicated to the concepts of equality and equity in the workplace, analysing their distinctions and implications for organisational policy. The speaker will also address evaluation and mentoring practices, highlighting their role in professional development and succession planning. Finally, the presentation will conclude with an exploration of networking practices, distinguishing between beneficial networking that fosters growth and collaboration, and detrimental networking that may lead to exclusivity or favouritism. This comprehensive overview aims to provide attendees with insights into creating more inclusive, efficient, and harmonious workplace environments.
Prof Rita F. Carvalho is a distinguished researcher and academic in the field of civil engineering, with a particular emphasis on hydraulics and water resources. Her work at the University of Coimbra and her involvement with MARE have positioned her at the forefront of marine and environmental research in Portugal. Prof Carvalho's contributions to the field include numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at international conferences, and collaborations with researchers worldwide. Her expertise spans areas such as coastal engineering, flood risk management, and sustainable water systems, making her a valued member of the global scientific community. Through her research and teaching, Prof Carvalho continues to influence the next generation of engineers and environmental scientists, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between human activities and natural water systems.
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