The University of Aberdeen's debut attendance as an exhibitor at one of the world's leading energy industry events has been hailed a success.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition, which this year was held in Amsterdam, showcases new technologies, products, and best practices, whilst addressing all conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources from around the world.
The University was represented by experts in the fields of Engineering and Geoscience who did non-stop business throughout the 3 day event, developing existing relationships and making many new ones, with exciting opportunities to follow up.
John Scrimgeour, Executive Director of the Aberdeen Institute of Energy noted “It’s been a very busy but successful week. The fact that Aberdeen was present and exhibiting for the first time has been very warmly received by attendees. The stand was busy throughout the week with discussions ranging from degree enquiries to research collaborations, consultancy and teaching offers, to name but a few. What was really exciting was the number of businesses and organisations who had not previously engaged with the University but were keen to do so.”
As well as exhibiting at the conference, Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Principal of the University, took the opportunity to meet with key industry personnel and host an evening reception on the opening night for alumni, friends and guests from a range of disciplines and spanning the generations.
Dr Alfred Akisanya, Deputy Head of School for Engineering commented “The evening reception was relaxed and informal with a warm and welcoming feel to it. It was particularly pleasing to see how grateful the alumni in attendance were to have been invited to an event on their doorstep.
“The Principal enthused about the global impact the University has made and continues to make thanks to our research pedigree and to the alumni family that’s spread far and wide around the globe. He mentioned his pride in our new world rankings and touched on our ambitions to develop the Kings campus. His sign off message was an invitation to keep in touch and to spread the word about the University.”
In addition Professor Bryan MacGregor, Vice-Principal & Head of the College of Physical Sciences, Dr Richard Neilson, Director of Research & Commercialisation for Physical Sciences, Professor Randell Stephenson, Head of Geology & Petroleum Geology, and Iain Percival, Honorary Professor of Engineering & Geosciences & former Chief Petroleum Engineer at Shell, Iain Morrison, VP Technical & Knowledge Management, for Senergy Energy Services, and alumni Nurkenay Bulekbayeva who works with Shell in The Hague were also in attendance representing the University at the event.
Both Iain Percival and Iain Morrison are members of the University’s Petroleum Engineering Advisory Board and strong supporters of the students going through the programme, and in particular the University’s SPE Student Chapter.
Commenting on the Chapter Iain Percival noted “The Chapter has been in place since 2008 and in its short history has recorded some remarkable achievements. In 2012 and 2013 the chapter received the recognition and award of ‘Outstanding Student Chapter’ accorded to only seven chapters in both years in the face of stiff global competition. Each year SPE International awards a small number of STAR scholarships to outstanding students considered on a global basis. The scholarships have a value of $5,000 per year for a maximum period of four years. In the short history of the University’s Petroleum Engineering undergraduate degree programme two such scholarships have been awarded to University of Aberdeen students. The Petroleum Engineering programme advisory board, the School of Engineering and the University can be rightly proud of this remarkable track record in such a short period of time.”