Science skills in Resources
National Science Week is a celebration of all things science and technology. It provides an opportunity to shine the spotlight on 6 of the Resources Victoria team who use their skills every day in very practical ways.
Claire, Mark, Louise and Tom are using geoscience to help us better understand the resources that may be hidden beneath the Earth’s surface. Sandra and Tim are using their science backgrounds to ensure resources projects are delivered in safe and sustainable ways.
Dr Louise Goldie Divko - Director of the Geological Survey of Victoria
Tell us about your role
I’m the Director at the Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV). Over the past 17 years I’ve enjoyed preparing scientific reports, completing geoscience projects, working in the field and at our drill core library. It’s been rewarding to engage with stakeholders and the community, as well as to collaborate with colleagues across government.
How did you get into your career?
When I was at secondary school the teacher always skipped the earth science chapters in our textbook. When I started my science degree there was the option to study earth sciences. I was rapt!! I went on to work as a geologist in the private sector before taking a detour into secondary school teaching for four years. A PhD led me back to geoscience. Careers are not always linear.
What benefits does your role bring to the state?
Locating the minerals required to develop renewable energy or the raw materials needed for construction depends on sound geoscience. Better understanding geology provides us with insights as to where these resources might be hidden underground. Without geoscience exploring for resources would involve a lot of guess work and that means areas would be unnecessarily disturbed. With publicly available modern datasets and knowledge, exploring for resources is targeted, reducing the impact on the environment and communities.
What advice would you have for those interested in a science-based career?
Science plays a huge role in our daily lives. To reduce our impact on climate change we’ll need more curious and innovative minds than ever to maintain our standard of living and reach net zero targets. There are many varied science roles out there – just look at the variety within the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action.
Tim Bessell-Browne - Manager, Complex Mines, Fire and Emergency
Tell us about your role
I manage the Complex Mines Fire and Emergency team within the Earth Resources Regulator.
My role supports the safe operation of coal mines in the Latrobe Valley. These mines have complex risks, which are challenging to manage. We need to meet that challenge head on.
How did you get into your career?
Rather than a geology or engineering degree, which might be more typical in my area of work, I have a science degree in ecology.
Initially, I worked at Agriculture Victoria as a freshwater ecologist before heading to the EPA where I worked in several risk management and emergency response roles. Then I accepted a position with Parks Victoria as Ranger in Charge of Fire and Emergency.
My training and experience have given me the skills to manage the regulation of emergency and risk at coal mines.
What benefits does your role bring to the state?
My teams’ work reduces risk to the environment, community and infrastructure from activities at coal mines. Importantly, we also minimise the risks associated with moving away from coal-fired electricity and rehabilitating the site.
What advice would you have for those interested in a science-based career?
Science can take you anywhere you want to go, so long as you seize the day!
Scientific method has been fundamental to my career. It has guided me to be situationally aware, to seek unbiased evidence and objectively assess information before making a decision.
Sandra O’Farrell - Manager Petroleum Assessments
Tell us about your role
I am responsible for assessing operational plans for exploration, production and decommissioning of gas resources. It sounds simple when you say it like that but these things are complex and usually bring a suite of issues to work through, so there is never a dull moment!
How did you get into your career?
It certainly wasn’t planned! I was working in a laboratory while I was at Uni and my supervisor flagged that a data entry role was available at the Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV). Being a poor student, I jumped at the chance.
Since then, I’ve moved into roles as a GIS Officer, Licensing Officer, Work Plan Assessor. At one point, while working as an environmental inspector I had audited every gas platform in Bass Strait (prior to 2011).
All that has led me to where I am now - managing and coordinating assessments of petroleum industry activities.
What benefits does your role bring to the state?
The oil and gas industry has had no major incidents in Victoria. Through rigorous assessments of proposals, I’m keen to make sure that continues.
What advice would you have for those interested in a science-based career?
Start with what you like and then be open to whatever opportunities come on your way – you never know where they’ll lead you. Be prepared to refine your skills and attributes – they are transferrable in a science-based career.
Dr Mark McLean - Team Leader Geophysics and Geological Modelling
Tell us about your role
I am a geoscientist with the Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV), where I lead a team responsible for acquiring, managing and interpreting the state’s geophysical datasets and for building complex 3D geological models of Victoria’s rocks. The best part of my role is uncovering Victoria's geology and tackling the challenges of understanding how it has evolved over time.
I also have a part-time role lecturing at The University of Melbourne where I collaborate with astronomers researching an exciting new technique called ‘muon tomography’. This is a revolutionary development in geophysics that uses particles from space to image geology. I also teach Applied Geophysics and supervise postgraduate students. It’s a rewarding role, particularly when I witness the moment a student grasps a concept and develops the same enthusiasm for geophysics and geology that I have.
How did you get into your career?
I have always loved learning about the Earth, which inspired me to study geology in high school. This passion led me to pursue a BA/BSc and an MSc at Monash University, followed by a PhD at The University of Melbourne. My PhD involved acquiring an airborne geophysical survey in East Antarctica and building 3D geological models of the geology beneath several kilometres of ice. The 3D modelling experience I acquired was well-aligned to the requirements at the Geological Survey of Victoria. I have been building models of rocks ever since.
What benefits does your role bring to the state?
Geophysics has a (not so secret) super-power – which is to ‘see through’ the overlying cover rocks and soil profile to understand the geology beneath. This is crucial because we've already discovered all the ‘easy to find’ earth resources - they were sticking out of the ground! The challenge today is to find resources that are completely buried. To achieve this, we use geophysics, 3D modelling and several other techniques to image the Earth's structure. The more we learn about Victoria's geology, the more we can predict where Victoria’s Earth resources are likely to be hidden. Making this knowledge available to explorers not only boosts the state’s economy but also helps us find the critical minerals needed for a net-zero future.
What advice would you have for those interested in a science-based career?
My advice for anyone interested in science is to let your passion drive you to analyse the data and seek answers. The best scientists excel because they are passionate about what they do and love the puzzles science presents. If this resonates with you, let your curiosity lead you to question everything and ‘uncover every stone’ (pun unintended). Importantly, expect your research to face setbacks (because it probably will), but stay motivated and keep pushing forward.
Claire Hirschmann - Senior Geoscientist, Tenements
Tell us about your role
I am a Senior Geoscientist at the Geological Survey of Victoria.
I help to ensure the information collected by mineral explorers is captured, managed and preserved for future use.
I’m passionate about sharing knowledge, helping others and promoting the value of high-quality data, and I enjoy that my role allows me to do all 3 of these.
How did you get into your career?
Growing up on a farm in South Australia, I was always curious about how the landscape around me had formed and what the different rocks I found could tell me about its history.
That interest led me to study geology in high school and go on to complete a science degree.
In 2004, I began my career as an exploration geologist, searching for a range of commodities around Australia before transitioning into geoscientific data management. I joined the Geological Survey in 2020, where I get to draw on that experience to support our understanding of Victoria's geology.
What benefits does your role bring to the state?
Our team’s work supports the collection of a full and high-quality record of all mineral exploration activities conducted across the state. This information is later released to the public and is integral to future exploration success.
Knowing what’s been done in the past prevents duplication of work and unnecessary land disturbance – ultimately supporting both economic development and responsible resource management.
What advice would you have for those interested in a science-based career?
Never be afraid to ask questions, stay curious and pursue the things that genuinely interest you.
Seek out new experiences, challenge yourself and be willing to step outside your comfort zone.
A career in science can take you in directions you never expected, and many of the opportunities available today may not even be on your radar yet.
Tom Andrews - Senior Geoscientist, Minerals
Tell us about your role
I am a geoscientist with the Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV). Our team works to understand the geology of Victoria to help the government make more informed land use policies relating to things like infrastructure development and mineral deposits.
My speciality is the science of how the geological systems which produce mineral deposits work, and why they are where they are. I use tools like geochemistry (what the rocks are made of), geochronology (how old the rocks are) and mapping to understand ancient processes involving mountain building, volcanoes and earthquakes. These processes shaped the way Victoria is today and created the mineral deposits we exploit for the raw materials needed to make things like electric cars and mobile phones.
How did you get into your career?
I knew I wanted to work in science, but didn’t know exactly where.
I started university with a Bachelor of Science degree. In my first year, I completed an introduction to geology elective, because I had always liked rocks and it mentioned volcanoes. This elective blew my mind, and I decided I wanted to study geology. I transferred to a university with a dedicated geology degree.
I love the outdoors, and studying geology suddenly gave me the chance to learn about the physical earth all around me and do it in interesting environments.
I followed my nose and kept doing things I found interesting. I worked as an exploration geologist looking for lead-zinc deposits in the Northern Territory. I moved to Tasmania to complete my Honours on the rocks I had worked on in the NT. I then worked as an exploration geologist looking for all kinds of things in cool parts of Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia, before coming to the GSV.
What benefits does your role bring to the state?
It is difficult to make informed decisions on things we don’t understand. Mining and infrastructure projects are some of the biggest, most expensive land use decisions governments need to make. By increasing our understanding of the geology, informed decisions can be made based on up-to-date data and knowledge.
When these projects are successful, they bring all kinds of benefits to Victoria. They create jobs, generate royalties and income, and allow our cities and regions to flow and function more easily. When they are made without proper understanding of the geology, they can end up costing both the taxpayer and the environment in ways which could have been avoided.
To complete the green energy transition, we need to extract all the raw materials needed to update our energy infrastructure, including wind turbines, solar panels and batteries. This cannot be done without finding new deposits of these minerals.
What advice would you have for those interested in a science-based career?
Good science involves pattern recognition and lateral thinking. Gaining the requisite background knowledge to do this effectively can be hard, but don’t be discouraged if you aren’t top of the class at university. STEM is hard and isn’t about rote learning facts. The best second-year student often doesn’t make the best working scientist, because the demands of university are different from working in STEM. With time, all the key words and ideas will become second nature, and you can start using your problem-solving skills on real-world problems, which is where the magic happens.
Always follow your nose and learn about what interests you. It is much more fun, rewarding and less effort to work on things you find interesting.
Page last updated: 19 Aug 2026