SPE congratulates Curtin Sarawak on establishment of its SPE Student Chapter

Miri – 22 April 2013 – The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the largest individual-member organisation serving managers, engineers, scientists and other professionals worldwide in the upstream segment of the oil and gas industry, recently congratulated Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) on the establishment of its SPE Student Chapter.

In a letter to Professor Ir. Yudi Samyudia, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Sarawak, 2013 SPE President Egbert Imomoh announced that the SPE Board of Directors formally approved the establishment of the Curtin University Sarawak SPE Student Chapter in March 2013 and welcomed the new student chapter to the SPE fold.

With its establishment comes a US$100 grant from SPE to assist the student chapter in its start-up activities or to purchase books from SPE’s bookstore. The student chapter, which is being helmed by third-year petroleum engineering student Sean Toh Zit Cheng, was also issued an official SPE Establishment Certificate which was handed over to Toh and his committee members by the acting dean of Curtin Sarawak’s School of Engineering and Science, Associate Professor Ir. Lau Hieng Ho, at a simple ceremony on 16 April 2013.

Also present at the ceremony were the head of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the School of Engineering and Science, Associate Professor Chua Han Bing; senior lecturer in chemical engineering Dr. Agus Saptoro, and Curtin University Sarawak SPE Student Chapter vice-president Grace Rantai.

The Curtin University Sarawak SPE Student Chapter, which currently has about 200 members and will soon carry out a membership drive to boost its membership, is sponsored by the School of Engineering and Science, with Dr..Ali Elsaeh Enbaia as its advisor. It is one of only four SPE student chapters in Malaysia and the first to be established in East Malaysia.

SPE student chapters are university-based groups of SPE student members and there are currently over 260 SPE student chapters all over the world.

With the number of chapters worldwide, it is easy for student members to network with industry professionals and possible employers. They can also benefit from technology discussions and meet practicing professionals at SPE meetings and events; receive society sponsored scholarships, receive discounts on textbooks, reference books, and other society publications; and participate in various SPE programmes, online communities and paper contests.

SPE’s mission is to collect, disseminate, and exchange technical knowledge concerning the exploration, development and production of oil and gas resources, and related technologies for the public benefit; and to provide opportunities for professionals to enhance their technical and professional competence. It enables the global oil and gas E&P industry to share technical knowledge needed to meet the world’s energy needs in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

Associate Professor Lau (centre) handing Sean Toh the Curtin University Sarawak SPE Student Chapter’s SPE Establishment Certificate while Associate Professor Chua, Dr. Agus and Grace Rantai look on.

The Curtin University Sarawak SPE Student Chapter logo.