Following an invitation to all student chapters to participate in SPE’s Ambassador Lecturer Program, the SPE Student Chapter at Mining U. of Leoben, Austria, decided immediately that a visit from a young professional would be an important contribution to its already strong program.
On 20 March, Thomas Bruni, editor-in-chief of TWA, was invited to take part in the student chapter regulars’ table, where undergraduate and graduate students, as well as assistants and professors, meet once a month. These evenings provide an informal atmosphere to discuss the latest news at school as well as noncurricular topics. Furthermore, they intensify the contact between students and teachers. This time, even the petroleum engineering department head joined the event to get to know Bruni and learn more about the lecture program. Bruni spoke about
- SPE, its mission, and what it can do for students.
- Young Professionals (YP) activities such as TWA and the online YP network.
- His experiences as a student and a professional.
What especially captured the students’ attention were stories about his studying and working abroad. Everybody was fascinated by his job in Algeria and the photos that showed landscapes and details that one normally gets to see only in documentaries. Students were keen on learning more about his individual career and how SPE influenced it. After the discussion that followed the lecture, the students could (finally) assault the pizzas that were generously offered by the Petroleum Engineering Dept.
The student chapter members gave high marks to the event through the survey that was circulated immediately after. The student chapter members said that they think the Ambassador Lecturer Program is very worthwhile and will be the beginning of a long-lasting relationship between the university students and young professionals in SPE.