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Fete de la Science incursion

“How speaking a second language can enhance a career in science” 

Students in Year 9-11 currently studying French and interested in pursuing careers in science had the opportunity to attend this virtual conference organised by the Alliance Francaise de Melbourne.

We heard from the following French and Australian bilingual scientists working in Australia:

• Professor Frédéric Hollande – Head of the Dept of Clinical Pathology at the University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, located within the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC).
• Professor Tim Fletcher – Professor of Urban Ecohydrology, Ecosystem and Forest Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
• Associate Professor Joanne Ryan – Head of the Biological Neuropsychiatry and Dementia research unit in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (SPHPM).
• Dr Helene Kammoun - Senior Project Manager in Research Support and Operations at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI).
• Prune Bokobza – International expert, hydrogen and renewable energies, currently working with Invest Victoria.

The “round-table” discussion featured a mix of testimonies and shared experiences on working in science, the benefits of being bilingual, how language can boost an international career and how languages shape the way we see the world and do research. Students also had the opportunity to submit questions, which were answered by the panellists, such as:

• How has being bilingual helped your career?
• What are the differences in STEM opportunities between France and Australia?
• In what other ways has being bilingual helped you?
• What degrees do you start off doing?
• Where did you go to university?

Here are some of the students’ reflections on what they learnt from the event:

• “It was interesting to hear panellists from both countries and to hear the similarities and differences between their career pathways”
• “It was good to hear their answers to our question about how learning French can help your career”
• “They had good advice about how to motivate yourself to learn a language - instead of focusing on becoming fluent, just focus on getting better. You’ll find you become fluent without realising it”
• “I learnt that there are lots of opportunities to study in France or to get grants for research if you have links in France”
• “A good tip for learning French is not to think of it as work - see it as an opportunity to expand your network, get to know more people and open up doors in the future”
• “It was interesting to hear how non-linear their career paths were and how the more unpredictable paths were often the most exciting”
• “I liked hearing the less obvious ways that learning a language can be beneficial - there are cognitive benefits and also the ability to comprehend things from two different perspectives”

Ms Emma Dickson

Languages Domain Leader