"I liked to experiment and find out why things happened, for me it was fascinating to see the changes in color or state of those substances in the science game"

Name and Surname: CRISTINA LINARES VIDAL

Age: 57 YEARS

Place of work: ALL OF CATALONIA

Residence: REUS

1. When did you decide you wanted to study engineering? And what specialty?

From a young age, my desire was to build and design. I spent a lot of time in my room playing, not with dolls, but with a science game that was given to me.

I liked to experiment and find out why things happened, for me it was fascinating to see the changes in color or state of those substances in the science game.

In my student phase at BUP I decided to orient my profession towards the branch of pure sciences and it was then that I was lucky enough to meet a young professor who made me discover the world of chemistry from a in a didactic way, through experiments carried out in a school laboratory, where he made us participate in how through different processes matter was transformed.

It is since then that I decided to study an engineering career specializing in chemistry, because of the diversity of knowledge in technology and innovation.

2. What do you currently do?

I am currently working as an independent professional in engineering where I carry out, together with my partner, Núria, all kinds of projects, safety-oriented work such as fire departments, health and safety coordination, self-protection plans - both locally and in Catalonia - and architectural and environmental acoustic projects.

3. Can you explain to us what acoustic engineering consists of?

It is a discipline focused on solving problems caused by the emission of noise, the transmission of that noise and the reception of sound waves through different materials.

Acoustic engineering encompasses different fields, from the performance of acoustic measurements in the field of air insulation such as for impacts, the sound conditioning of a building and the transmission of vibrations through structures that ultimately end up affecting the 'individual, such as the creation of new materials that help improve the isolation of the noise produced in the cities themselves by activities, traffic and provide more comfort for people.

In order to assess this impact on the individual, acoustic engineering uses complex equipment such as the sound level meter, the piezometer, the directional source, the omnidirectional source or the impact machine in different scenarios that will be used for noise control.

4. Surely, it is a very demanding job, what do you do in your spare time?

I spend my free time doing different sports: alpine skiing in the winter, scuba diving and ferrades in the summer, and high mountains during the rest of the year. I am passionate about outdoor sports and being in contact with nature, they serve me to remove stress from work and as a challenge to use the instinct to overcome.

5. What advantages do you think being a member of the College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Tarragona brings?

Many advantages! Being able to establish relationships between colleagues every year during the engineer's party, accessing advisory services, consulting the updated library and bookshop, having civil liability insurance with very good conditions, being able to reserve spaces in case of need, enroll in training courses, accreditation to be able to apply for a visa and practice my profession with the guarantee and support of the CETIT.