Danish Technical University

I met with a group of graduate students from the Danish Technical University and a group of local SPE leaders. I was impressed with their enthusiasm and the quality of research and education underway there. #SPElfie

Over the last few months I have met with numerous university chapters of SPE and am seeing significant concerns about the job market in today's price environment. Although enrollments are up at DTU, they are not up as radically as at many North American schools. The long-term demand for such students is going to be high but we may repeat history during this pricing environment. Most of the students seem thoroughly committed to staying in the industry even if it means their first jobs might not be the "glamorous, high paying jobs" they had previously envisioned.

One thing I try to pass on is the real purpose of petroleum engineering. It is not to 'maximize shareholder returns' or 'make a lot of money' but to provide safe, affordable energy and improve peoples' lives. Almost every measure of standard of living correlates to energy usage and modern society depends on oil and gas. What we do is important to society. I look forward to ways to use their talents in a downturn and would like to hear your thoughts.