At the breakfast students from Years 10 to 12 share a table with two or three women who are either in a career in physics or engineering, or are at university as an undergraduate or a postgraduate. The students have a chance to ask questions about their careers and what study at university is like. Students are seated with students from other schools.
At each breakfast there is an address by a prominent scientist, who talks about her area of interest at a level appropriate for the audience. Date: 19th March. Closing date for bookings: 12th March Venue: Mildura Golf Club Resort Times: 8:30am and finish about 11:00am. Speaker: Dr Saima Aijaz, Bureau of Meteorology Topic: Weather & oceans at the Bureau of Meteorology: Cyclones – Predicting their path and their increasing impact and Mildura weather – with high tech radar.
Bio: Saima Aijaz is a Senior Research Scientist at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Melbourne. She also serves as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Melbourne and an Adjunct Research Fellow at Swinburne University of Technology. Saima earned her Ph.D. in Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from NED University in Karachi, Pakistan.
Her career spans multiple countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Samoa, and Australia. Saima spent nearly two decades as a coastal engineer in the consulting ocean engineering industry before returning to oceanographic science. Her current research focuses on waves, ocean and tropical cyclone modeling, with an emphasis on verifying forecast ocean models using satellite and field data.
Saima’s previous roles include Wave and Climate Change Expert for the Asian Development Bank, Specialist for Coastal Projects at the Dubai Government’s Coastal Management Section, and Coastal and Marine Technical Practice Leader at AECOM Asia Pacific, a Fortune 500 global consultancy.
Abstract: I am part of the ocean modelling and forecasting team at the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). BoM is Australia’s national authority for weather, climate, and oceans—a vital part of every community. From farmers to families, businesses to emergency services, we deliver critical information that keeps Australians safe, connected, and prepared every day.
BoM provides observations, forecasts, warnings, and advice on extreme events such as droughts, floods, fires, storms, tsunamis, and tropical cyclones. Our scientific research spans the atmosphere, space, aviation, oceans, and water systems.
Our ocean team at BoM has developed one of the world’s most accurate global ocean forecasting systems, delivering real-time data for maritime safety, search and rescue, hazardous chemical spill response, fisheries, port operations, and resource management. Most importantly, these ocean forecasts give the Australian Defence Force information superiority for seaborne operations that safeguard our nation.
Large parts of Australia experience severe tropical cyclones every year, causing loss of life and billions of dollars in damage to infrastructure and the economy. Today, we will explore BoM’s ocean forecast systems and examine:
How ocean conditions influence cyclone formation
The challenges in predicting cyclone paths and intensities
How accurate warnings and forecasts help protect Australians
As we are in Mildura, we will also find out about the state-of-the-art Mildura radar, equipped with Doppler capability and dual-polarization technology. This advanced system detects and identifies the types of particles are in the atmosphere and their speed. It provides the most accurate weather information for farmers and for the many people who rely on timely and precise forecasts.
Fees:
The table below shows the fee structure.
Category
Cost
First Teacher
No Charge
Second Teacher
$25 / $10*
per Student
$15 / $0*
* A discount was available for schools with a low ICSEA rank. Discounts could be applied for by emailing Vicphysics with subject ‘Breakfast discount’.
Fees
Two methods to pay are available,
by credit card or
by bank transfer, an email is generated with the details of the Vicphysics bank account.
Max number of students per school: To enable more schools to participate, there was an initial maximum of twelve (12) students per school. Booking:
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Program:
There is a 45 min talk, followed by questions. After this there are two activities on Careers in STEM i) Quiz and Job Roles Analysis and ii) Case Studies analysis. A Q&A with a panel of guests rounds out the event.
Sponsors and Supporters
The Girls in Physics Breakfasts are organised by the Vicphysics Teachers’ Network and supported by funding from the Invergowrie Foundation.
