2009: Environmental focus

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Tags: Science, winter-2011

Miguel Molina

Miguel Molina, Master of Environmental Management

Coordinating environmental impact assessments, reviewing legislation, maintaining green spaces and educating the public on recycling is all in a day’s work for Miguel Molina.

Mr Molina is the Head of the Department of Environment Projects and Studies within the Secretariat of Natural Environment and Ecology in the Municipality of Guadalajara, Mexico.

After graduating in 2009, he returned home where work was scarce and the country was gripped by the Global Financial Crisis.

However, his UQ studies put him ahead of the pack, and he secured a position in the environmental management field.

“I travelled all the way from Mexico to study at UQ because Australia has always been a fascinating country for me and its environmental programs and policies have become an example to the world on natural resource preservation, protection and management,” Mr Molina said.

“Choosing UQ was a matter of deciding where I would receive a high-quality education and what would be most useful to me in the future.

“The environmental management master´s program offered me the possibility to cater my course options depending on my interests and needs as an international full-time student, which is an important characteristic since getting accustomed to a new culture, language and education system is a difficult process.”

Mr Molina said his most memorable experience while studying at UQ was the opportunity to research carbon footprint reduction for the 42nd AIFST (Australian Institute of Food and Science Technology) International Conference.

“Being able to present my work at the international conference, watching how research was applied, and meeting very interesting people was priceless,” he said.

Mr Molina’s contract with the municipal government expires in 2013, but his thoughts are already on the future.

“My current plans at the moment are to continue my studies with a PhD,” he said.

“Even though I am in Mexico, I would like to return to UQ and work on topics including cleaner production or life cycle assessment.”

By Kate Swanson

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