About 200 students from high schools in the Houston area got a glimpse at what their future in the oil and gas industry might be during the BP-sponsored STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) event at the 2013 Offshore Technology Conference. Students performed experiments, met with industry leaders, and toured the exhibition floor during the conference, while participating in a scavenger hunt.
Crystal Ashby, VP of Government and Public Affairs at BP, spoke about how BP recognizes the importance of investing in the education and needs of young people, and told them of the need for more of them to join the industry after college.
“These companies look to hire well-educated people who can handle the science and math needed to find energy solutions for the future,” says Ashby. “The days of self-taught oil prospectors taking an educated guess and poking something in the ground, looking for oil and gas are long gone. Now an entire range of sciences and technologies are employed by teams of professionals [looking for] resources in remote and often complex environments.”
Newly hired BP employees volunteered time taking students around the exhibition floor, and answered questions about their professions. BP financial analyst, Farah Ahmed told participants of the different avenues that the industry has to offer.
“It felt great being able to help out,” says Ahmed. “To see the excitement on the kids’ faces while they were getting exposed to different areas and learning different things about the oil and gas industry was great.”
Ahmed advised students to get a head start on researching career paths they’d like to take before finishing their education.
“Get exposed to as much as you can about the industry,” says Ahmed. “That will help you see what kind of sub-disciplines you may be interested in. Definitely make connections with companies, do internships, and see what kind of projects are available. Be very proactive about internships and jobs.”
Students completed surveys about their experiences throughout the day, and were given informative materials to take home. Their instructors were also given teaching materials before and after the event, to prepare students for what to expect at the conference, and lessons following up on everything they were able to experience while at OTC. OE
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