Field of research/work: Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics
YTS Years: 2025
Jakob's Notable career moments
Loved art and PE; science hadn’t caught my interest yet
Discovered creativity in science—coloured firecrackers sealed the deal!
Started engineering and science at UTAS; adopted my dog Billy mid-exams.
After many rejections, finally landed real-world engineering roles.
Switched to mechanical engineering—more hands-on, more enjoyable!
Graduated with Billy; maths, mechanics, and joy intact.
Now a mechanical engineer, lecturer, and STEM outreach advocate.
About Jakob Haas
A hydropower station is like a giant water park built inside a mountain, with huge slides that send water rushing through fan-like machines called turbines. When turbines spin, they generate electricity. At the Gordon Power Station in Tasmania, when too much water flows, the whole station starts to shake—and that shaking grows. My work helps remove that unwanted shaking, making the station safer and more reliable. More importantly, it helps make sure Australia has enough energy as we switch to clean sources like wind and solar, keeping the energy duck happy and full (but that’s a story for another day!).
Although hydropower is what I’m currently focused on, it’s only one part of my journey through science and engineering. From the ocean floor to underground tunnels, and from sleek underwater drones to rugged trucks—I’ve worked across it all. My love of science and engineering doesn’t come from one project or area. It comes from the chance to solve real problems that make people’s lives better. Whether it’s keeping the lights on, keeping the wheels turning, or just answering a great “why” question, I get to fix things, build things, and sometimes even shake things.
