PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Tuesday 28 November, 5.30pm at King’s Conference Centre, University of Aberdeen: with speakers at the evening event
Experts from the chemical engineering profession will join industry representatives, educationalists and careers advisers next week to launch a new degree programme at the University of Aberdeen. The launch will be marked with an event aimed at helping ensure that chemical engineers remain at the centre of addressing the energy challenges of the twenty-first century.
The evening forum, entitled Trust me, I’m a chemical engineer… will be hosted by the University of Aberdeen on Tuesday 28 November from 6-8.30pm to mark the launch of the new MEng Degree in Chemical Engineering at the University, only the second such programme to be launched across the UK in the last two decades.
The city of Aberdeen has one of the highest concentrations of professional chemical engineers in the UK, due to the offshore oil and gas industry. From discovery to recovery and much more, the chemical engineer has been at the centre of the hydrocarbon industry for over 30 years.
The future holds huge opportunities – but also challenges. The focus on the evening will be a discussion on how practising engineers, industry and educationalists can work together to ensure that chemical engineering continues to provide the career of choice for new graduates eager to play a role at the forefront of the global energy sector.
The event, to be introduced by Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University, will feature a presentation by Greg Lewin, President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and Shell Global Solutions. Greg will share his optimism for the future of the profession, not just in the UK, but globally, giving examples from his career at Shell to illustrate what chemical engineers can achieve when working in multidisciplinary teams seeking solutions to the energy challenge.
Also addressing the meeting will be Phil Tracy, Director of Engineering and Operations at independent oil and gas exploration and production company Cairn Energy PLC on his experience of how chemical engineers are helping solve the difficult technical problems being faced by Cairn in their operations in India.
Professor Albert Rodger, Head of the College of Physical Sciences, will outline the new MEng programme and highlight opportunities for the University and industry to work together to add further value to the new course.
Brian Nixon, Energy Director of Scottish Enterprise, will chair questions and discussion, and this will be followed by a drinks reception with opportunity for networking.
President of IChemE and Shell Global Solutions, Greg Lewin said:
“Chemical engineering departments across the UK have seen an increase of 40% in undergraduate intake since the launch of IChemE’s whynotchemeng campaign in 2001, and we expect this resurgence of interest to continue. The University of Aberdeen, alongside other universities, will play a vital role in meeting the increased demand to study chemical engineering. This new degree course will deliver a new generation of budding chemical engineers capable of solving some of society’s greatest challenges. IChemE looks forward to working with the University in the years to come.”
Phil Tracy; Engineering & Operations Director at Cairn Energy PLC, said:
“There is huge competition for the services of good quality engineers on oil and gas projects across the globe whether in the North Sea , the Gulf of Mexico or our own Indian development in Rajasthan. With such diverse career options available to young people, those working on some of these challenging and exciting developments must share their experiences in order to attract the best talent who will be tomorrow’s engineers.”
Professor Corrie Imrie, Head of the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, is delighted that his department is launching the new programme this academic year. He said: “This will be a unique course which will provide a balance between chemical engineering fundamentals and the problem-solving skills required by today’s professional engineers practising in the energy sector.”
The event is being supported by the Institution of Chemical Engineers, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Energy Institute, and the UK Offshore Operators Association.
A few spaces are still available for this event by registering online at www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/news . More information can be obtained by calling 01224-272910, e-mail v.mcleod@abdn.ac.uk