SPE Regional Paper Contest Hosted by UT PGE
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March 27, 2013
UT PGE will host the 2013 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Gulf Coast Regional Paper Contest April 5-6. The contest consists of 35 undergraduate, masters, and doctorate students from seven universities in the region. Judged by industry professionals, students will present their findings from a research project or internship.
Six participants from UT PGE will compete in the regional contest; Jason Camacho and Brandon Hilts in the undergraduate division; Shaina Kelly and Roman Shor in the masters’ division, and Lokendra Jain and Kan Wu in the PhD division.
Brandon Hilts, whose paper focuses on managed pressure drilling, says the Regional Contest will help him translate his on-the-job experience in an office setting. “I’m always looking to improve my presentation skills,” says Hilts.
Graduate student Shaina Kelly also hopes to augment her public speaking skills. “Presenting one’s research in a compelling and clear manner is sometimes almost as difficult as doing the research itself!” says Kelly. “The paper contest will help me gain experience in communicating a research message clearly—this is a very valuable skill for the future.”
Naturally, preparing for the contest requires dedication, especially when it comes to perfecting one’s presentation. “Practice, practice, practice, and revision!” Kelly explains. “Many professors have been helpful to the student contestants, volunteering their time to critique our PowerPoint slides and presentation styles.”
The weekend will kick off Friday, April 5 with a dinner cruise on Lady Bird Lake. Following the contest on Saturday, an awards dinner will be held at the Texas Union.
Winners from the SPE Gulf Coast Regional Contest will attend the International Student Paper Contest held at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) in New Orleans this October.
