Science Week 2024 Profiles - Ian Yorke
In our final post for Science Week 2024, we celebrate high achieving scientist Ian Yorke, Principal Advisory Officer – Noise working in the EPA’s Environmental Science Branch.
How long have you been at the EPA? I have been at the EPA for 5 years since May 2019.
What did you study? I did a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering at Griffith University in Brisbane. We did a couple of subjects on acoustics in our degree however most people went into more water engineering / hydrology type disciplines. When I was working in the Department of Transport and Main Roads, I completed a Master of Laws (Environmental Resources Law) at QLD University of Technology.
What aspects interest you the most? In the last 5-6 months I have commenced the role of A/Manager Air and Noise, where it’s been interesting to delve into a different scientific discipline of air quality. I’ve been overseeing projects looking at impacts of odour, dust and other emissions from industrial facilities in South Australia and have enjoyed the challenge of being involved in a different scientific speciality and broadening my skills and knowledge.
What aspects are the most fun? It is always good going out on site to carry out different noise measurements, whether that be quarries, aircraft, rocket launches and gas turbine generators.
What is the most interesting science experiment you have ever done? Going out to measure noise from a suborbital rocket launch on the Eyre Peninsula was a great experience. The launch on that occasion wasn’t fully successful, however the interest and hype around launching the first of its type was exciting to be part of.
Any other interesting info / facts? I have worked in Queensland, Australian Capital Territory (aircraft and airport noise) and now in Adelaide.
In March I returned from a 4.5 month overseas trip to Morocco, Ghana, Egypt, Israel and Palestine. It was a real life changer to see amazing places and cultures vastly different from ours
