The Chemical Sisters
Georgie and Alice bonded by chemistry and sisterhood.
Published on the 05 August 2024
Meet Georgie Mansfield, currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)/ Science, and her sister Alice, who graduated in 2023 with a degree in Food Science and Technology, both from the UNSW School of Chemical Engineering.
Raised in a family that values complex problem solving and critical thinking, the sisters have forged unique paths within their shared field, driven by their distinct interests and ambitions.
In the Q+A below, we delve into their motivations, experiences, and the dynamic interplay of sibling support and competition that has shaped their academic and personal lives.
Georgie and Alice's story highlights the power of family and the pursuit of excellence in chemical engineering.
What inspired you both to study chemical engineering and, as sisters, do you believe your family background and upbringing influenced your academic pursuits?
Georgie: Chemical engineering plays such an important role in almost every material we handle, and I was excited by the possibility of contributing to solving problems or being part of something that improved people’s everyday lives.
Alice: Georgie and I were both raised to love science and to “argue the ridiculous”. Because of this I think we were both drawn to a field that is highly innovational and requires critical thinking. Our parents met when they were studying food science so I would say that all things to do with food and chemistry run in our blood.
How has having a sister studying the same discipline shaped your university experience, academically and socially?
G: It’s a unique experience. Academically, I do feel more accountable knowing my younger sister will take similar courses and compare how we have both performed. However, having a sister in the same discipline is convenient because I can get instant feedback or help with a question from someone who knows exactly what I’m talking about.
Socially, we have pursued different opportunities. This makes for the funny occasion where we’ve gone home together and my friends/peers have been shocked by how similar we look or that “another one exists”, as well as lecturers confusing us for each other.
A: As I am the younger sister, it has been fantastic having an older sibling go to university and study the courses first! It’s like having your own personal tutor for any university course. I think it shaped my university experience academically because Georgie was able to help me with concepts that she had understood well.
Socially, we spent very little time with each other at the UNSW campus, even though we were often in the same building. I think having a sibling there gave us the confidence to go and find our own friends.
Have you faced any challenges or competition between you, and how have you managed those dynamics?
G: A challenge we both faced was the uncertainty and instability across COVID. Lockdowns made that time of university an isolating experience. We were lucky that we could manage it together by studying in the same room, spending our breaks together, and talking about how our courses changed. This made what was an isolating experience for most, a unifying one for us.
A: As there is only a year between us there has always been competition. However, I think this makes us both better. We’ve always been quite close so by the time we got to UNSW the dynamics pretty much managed themselves. We were each other’s greatest supporter and fiercest competition.
Looking ahead, what are your career goals, and do you plan on working together in the future?
G: I’m really interested in the water sector and consulting and aim to pursue this. There are a lot of new and diverse challenges in the water industry, new opportunities that are opening in water innovation, and so much still to learn about water treatment which makes it a great industry to be a part of.
In terms of working together, funnily, we didn’t plan to be in the same School at UNSW either. I think we both enjoy pursuing our passions and individual interests, but at some point, I think it’s likely these will accidentally cross again and we’ll be surprised to be working together.
A: There is a huge piece around sustainability now and this a particularly challenging area for the agrifood space, which is often under scrutiny for food waste and contribution to climate change. While the industry is already taking leaps to futureproof itself, I would really like to contribute to the sustainability transition and innovation in the Australian food industry.
I think we would be an incredible team; now we are going to different companies, but we always seem to converge so I’m sure we will work together at some point in the future.
As Australia’s best engineering faculty turns 75, there are just as many reasons why we’ve earned that title. Discover new stories weekly, celebrating the successes that have enabled progress for all.
