Moving Forward, Giving Back
Moving Forward, Giving Back, the SPE Foundation’s new fundraising effort, seeks support for vital SPE programs serving this and future generations.
The Distinguished Lecturer Program extends the knowledge and experience of some of the industry's top experts by making available to every SPE section up to three live lectures per year.
- Some 30 experts, selected by a rigorous peer-review process, travel the globe to share their expertise with industry professionals.
- Through more than 400 presentations each year, these experts address current technical topics, answer countless questions, and advance technology on all fronts.
- The reach of our Distinguished Lecturer Program has been extended even further with the expansion of SPE.org, which now hosts Distinguished Lecturer presentations online upon completion of each lecture year.
The SPE Foundation has been the primary financial supporter of the Distinguished Lecturer Program for many years.
The SPE Foundation supports undergraduate and graduate students with scholarships:
- The Archie Memorial Scholarship for undergraduates.
- The van Wingen Memorial Graduate Fellowship.
The SPE Foundation also supports students through the following programs:
- Student Paper Contests, including nine regional contests and the International Student Paper Contest.
- Ambassador Lecturer Program, in which young professionals travel to student chapters to talk about the transition into industry.
- Student Travel to SPE Meetings, providing assistance for student members to attend SPE sponsored meetings.
- Special Student Sessions, just-for-student events at select SPE conferences.
More than any other program, SPE.org, the leading knowledge portal for petroleum professionals around the world, delivers on the SPE mission "to collect, disseminate, and exchange technical knowledge." SPE.org offers members and students a variety of technical, educational and interactive services, made possible in part through ongoing SPE Foundation support, including:
- Industry Search, an expansive search engine focused on E&P-related websites.
- eLibrary, which now includes 45,000 technical papers from SPE conferences and journals.
- Online Learning, self-study courses for practicing professionals, including Distinguished Lecturer presentations and selected conference speakers.
- Collaborative Communities, SPE's networking capabilities, which bring groups of professionals together in an interactive electronic community.
"How are we to provide abundant, clean and affordable energy as world demand increases? Are we running out of oil? Which energy resource is best?" The public wants to know more. And SPE is stepping up its efforts to educate and inform students, communities and civic groups about energy-related issues. The SPE Foundation helps fund:
- Industry Ambassadors, SPE section members who visit educational and civic groups to speak about energy in our everyday lives and about career opportunities.
- Mini-Grant Program for Teachers, which provides funds to primary and secondary school teachers for the purchase of energy education materials to be used in science classes.
- Energy4Me website, a website for students, teachers and the public designed to help children and adults become more educated energy consumers.
A Renewed Commitment
For more than 30 years, the SPE Foundation has played an important role in providing support for SPE programs and services. In that time, the Foundation has:
- Managed and grown an endowment appropriate to a world-class professional organization.
- Provided significant annual support for the renowned Distinguished Lecturer Program.
- Taken on special projects, including a campaign to build the SPE office in Richardson, Texas, and another campaign to strengthen SPE.org, the Society’s electronic knowledge portal.
As the petroleum industry enters a new age, so, too, does the organization that serves its professionals. SPE membership is up more than 40% since 2000. Our membership needs have never been greater.
Serving our members requires a renewed level of commitment from all who care about the industry and its future.
Consider a gift to the SPE Foundation.
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"The Distinguished Lecturer Program is an amazing achievement. Speakers who are leaders in the industry reach people in all corners of the world. This kind of exchange cannot be accomplished by any other means. "
— S. M. FAROUQ ALI, consultant; Honorary Professor, University of Calgary; Distinguished Lecturer, 1992; 2003, member, Distinguished Lecturer Committee
"I've known I wanted to go into petroleum engineering since I was in high school. The Archie Scholarship made it possible. I'm considering a position in operations or production."
— DARCY SOUTA, Gus Archie Memorial Scholarship recipient, 2004; completing her senior year at Colorado School of Mines
“I know how much I have benefited from SPE throughout my career. I think it’s important to give back to the organization so other people can take advantage of all that SPE offers.”
— A.M. SAM SAREM, President, Improved Petroleum Recovery Consultants, Distinguished Lecturer 1982-1983; Omega Association Charter Member
“The petroleum industry is entering a new Golden Age and SPE must expand its programs exponentially to stay ahead of the curve. The time is now to fund the programs of the future.”
— ROY KOERNER, 2006 - 2007 President, SPE Foundation; 1995 SPE President; Omega Association Charter Member