Supplied by Moonsamy www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2023 33
Personality Profile Sponsored by :
“ BEING AN ENGINEER IS NOT A CHOICE , IT IS A PASSION .”
Written by Eamonn Ryan
Kerisha Tiara Moonsamy completed her Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering at the Durban University of Technology with Dean ’ s Merit and Cum Laude .
Thereafter she proceeded to complete her Honours in Mechanical Engineering , graduating with Dean ’ s Merit and Cum Laude for the second time .
She lists some of her accomplishments as :
• Researched , designed and constructed a 16m 2 3D printer to print houses using a concrete mixture with complete manufacturing drawings for my honours design project .
• Conducted research , designed and built a ventilator that worked on compressing an AMBU bag to provide oxygen to patients for my design project .
• Currently I am completing my graduate programme where I discovered my passion for the HVAC industry .
“ One of the greatest challenges that I needed to overcome was having insufficient finance to pay for my university studies . I was fortunate enough to receive a bursary from SAFCOL for my degree and thereafter I received NRF ( National Research Foundation ) funding for my Honours programme . I worked extremely hard throughout my high school and tertiary career as I knew I needed excellent marks to receive funding . This determination and hard-work ethic has remained with me and is helping me blossom in the working world ,” says Moonsamy .
Explaining what drew her to a career in HVAC engineering in the first place , as well as her current position , Moonsamy says : “ As a recent graduate I have a passion for learning and I aim to be challenged . Being introduced to the HVAC industry was new territory for me . I dived into the vast theory and broadness of the industry . The complexity and science stole my heart . Mathematics and physical science were always my favourite subjects – I could never put down a question until I had the answer . The complexity of both comfort cooling and data centres have engaged me and it has become my goal to become an expert in the field . At the moment , my goal is to become a PR Eng Tech in the HVAC industry .”
Moonsamy has some words of advice to other women thinking of entering the engineering or HVAC sector , in terms of her experiences and what she has so far learned : “ Do not ever doubt that you cannot be an engineer just because you are female . Women in engineering is the future : there is nothing that we as women should feel we cannot achieve . All the hard work and sacrifices do pay off in the end . There is no greater pleasure than walking on that graduation stage wielding your completion certificate . It all builds up for that proud moment .
“ The thing I love most about HVAC is that you will never be bored because no two tasks or situations will be identical . Comfort cooling and the data centre industry are constantly evolving and changing – which ensures that your mind is always stimulated . However , the thing I enjoy the least is meeting people who do not have the same passion for maths and engineering as myself .
“ My goal is to become a PR Eng Tech in the HVAC industry and I want to accomplish this within the next 10 years . Engineering is becoming overrun by software programs but I want to be the type of engineer who can complete those tasks by hand . I want to rely on my textbooks – not AI – for answers . I plan on gaining as much knowledge and experience in the HVAC sector as I can . Being an engineer is not a choice , it is a passion ,” enthuses Moonsamy . RACA
Supplied by Moonsamy www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2023 33