In this article, we are happy to present an exclusive interview with Marie-Laure, a
dedicated project and process engineer working at Carmeuse Technologies. With a rich background in Chemical Engineering and Management, Marie-Laure has made significant strides in environmental sustainability and innovation. Join us as we delve into her journey, experiences, and insights into the STEM* fields.
Marie-Laure, can you share your educational background and how it has influenced your career journey?
I studied engineering at l’UCLouvain in Belgium. More specifically I have a Master in Chemical Engineering and Material Sciences with a specialization in Environmental and Chemical Engineering. After graduating, I was unsure about my career path, so I pursued a one-year Master in Management at Maastricht University. Upon completing this second master’s degree, many opportunities appeared, but I was determined to start my career with an engineering job in the field.
I began working as a project engineer for Fluxys on the LNG Terminal in Zeebrugge. As an on-site project engineer, I managed various projects including the annual Terminal shutdown, safety audits, maintenance and plant optimization, hydrogen-related initiatives, and digital projects. I also held the role of loading master, overseeing the loading and unloading of tankers. After two years on-site, I decided to pursue a position focused on contributing to a sustainable future, which led me to Carmeuse Technologies.
Reflecting on your 2.5 years at Carmeuse, what initially attracted you to the company, and how has your experience here evolved over time?
The position at Carmeuse is what initially drew my interest. I was hired as a process and project engineer in the Decarbonization Solutions team, to work on CO2 technologies. More specifically to study and assess the use of carbon capture technologies on Carmeuse kilns, both vertical and rotary kilns. It’s important to know that I did my master thesis on CO2 capture using membranes, so I knew the topic a bit and I was interested by it. For the lime industry, as the process CO2 emissions are unavoidable, the only possibility is to capture the CO2 to either store it underground or reuse it in new products. Working on this topic is challenging but it is both fascinating and essential for the future of the company.
A year ago, my role shifted from focusing on processes to managing projects, specifically the "Pebble Heater" project. The purpose of this project was to design and built on the Butterfly kiln in Seilles, an energy accumulator that allows to increase CO2 content in the fumes while not decreasing the kiln’s efficiency. We are now in the commissioning phase, with testing scheduled for the April 2025 Butterfly campaign. This project role gained added significance in October 2024 when I assumed the position of project manager for Butterfly due to a change in my colleague's job.
What pushed you to join the technology and innovation sector? In your opinion, why is it important to have more women in STEM fields, and what unique perspectives do women bring to this industry?
I have always been attracted to sciences and mathematics, even as a child. I find the sciences fascinating because they describe, attempt to understand and predict natural phenomena. What I find even more interesting is the opportunities those fields bring because of what and how they can be used to change the world we live in. It was, therefore, obvious for me to study engineering and applied sciences.
*STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics