Santos Limited PNG, formerly Oil Search PNG, donated a total of 47 textbooks through their technical library in Sydney, to The University of Papua New Guinea, Earth Sciences Division, following the closing of their corporate office in Sydney.
According to the Divisional Head of the Earth Sciences Division, Associate Prof. Joseph Espi, the books will provide very useful information that is needed to support the Division’s Petroleum Geoscience courses, including the preparation of new ones. The books will help to review and update the existing courses within the Division, including planned courses comprising Petroleum Geoscience. Some of these courses include the Year 4 courses, Petroleum Geology and Petroleum Engineering, and the Year 2 course, Sedimentology. The Division also plans to introduce a new course, Sedimentary Geology or Stratigraphy, for the Year 2, commencing in 2023.
He added that, apart from the kind contribution of the books, the involvement of staff from Santos Limited, specifically, Mr. Michael McWalter and Dr. Shane Schofield, who have been strong supporters of, and contributors to, the Division’s Petroleum Geoscience courses, especially Petroleum Geology, for more than 20 years, through the Oil Search Limited. Both have given guest lectures every year. The Division hopes that both, including others from Santos Limited, will be involved in the 2022 Semester 2 program, and that such assistance and partnership will create a sustained pathway for students who are interested in Petroleum Geoscience. This support will open new opportunities for studies, research, and employment.
The staff and students of the Division expressed their gratitude to Santos PNG for the donation of books and their continuous provision of assistance in sponsoring conferences, research collaboration, funding of postgraduates studies, and so on, which will help to lift the profile of the Petroleum Geoscience stream of the B.Sc. Earth Sciences Program.
The Senior Government Affairs Manager, Mr. Cornelius Soagai and his team from the Santos PNG Office, comprising some graduates of the University, presented the textbooks to the students and staff of the Division, and thanked the University’s management, and the Division for producing graduates who are now in higher positions within their organisation and are
contributing immensely to their organisation and the industry, and most importantly, adding value to PNG’s human resources.
The presentation of the books was carried out on Thursday 7 April, 2022 at the UPNG’s Waigani Campus, and was witnessed by staff and students of the Earth Sciences Division and the team from Santos PNG.