Section in Focus: Turkey

The SPE Turkey Section supports four SPE student chapters—the Middle East Technical University (METU) Chapter; Middle East Technical University–Cyprus Chapter; Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Chapter; and Batman University Chapter—and works to connect each chapter and its instructors with each of the other three chapters and their instructors.

One of the most exciting seminars took place at the METU Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering (PNGE) Department auditorium on 25 March 2014 in Ankara. The title of the discussion was “Thoughts on Petroleum Engineering Education and Industry–University Collaboration.” Mustafa Onur, a professor at ITU who has developed and taught courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at four universities—University of Tulsa, ITU, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, and King Saud University—was the presenter.

The discussion drew about 100 attendees, including 10 instructors from PNGE departments, high-level executives, and students from the METU and ITU student chapters. Onur finished his talk by focusing on petroleum and natural gas engineering’s bright future throughout the world and the invaluable contributions SPE makes to the petroleum and natural gas engineering profession. This event was organized and coordinated by SPE Turkey Section young professionals.

After the talk, a barbecue lunch was held, organized under the sponsorship of Petoil Petroleum. This was the first integration meeting in 2014. The SPE Turkey Section traditionally organizes such meetings twice a year.