Review of Semester 2, 2013

The semester starts with a BANG! on 23rd of August 2013 for the Curtin Geology Club members when the committee members  arranged a welcoming gathering in the authentic Raya style. The notion of the gathering was to initiate an ice-breaking session among the club members. Besides that, the gathering also played a role in introducing Curtin Geology Club and Curtin Sarawak AAPG Student Chapter, along with the club advisors, committee members . It also acted as a platform for the members to know the staffs in the Geology Department. 

Lecturers from Geology Department: From left, Associate Professor Nagarajan, Dr. Prasanna, Dr. Dominique and Miss Vivian

Student Geologists

Vice President, Curtin Geology Club: Mr Premendran

Game session

Geology club initiated their first activity with the Hill Challenge 3: Bukit Kasut Hiking on 3rd to 4th of September 2013, which was organised by Himeraj Ashogan, the editor of Geology Club. The hiking activity provides an insight to the challenges that geologists undergo during field work especially in a isolated area. Moreover, it also acts as a platform to encourage healthy lifestyle among the geology club members. The hiking challenge was more of a camp taking 2 days and a night in Niah National Park. That activity closes the bond that existed among the geology members who comes off from different faculties in Curtin. 

Participants at Niah National Park HQ

CGC + AAPG Committees, at the peak of Bukit Kasut

Boat ride to the chalet.

Besides outdoor activities, we also implemented a few ideas among the members. For example, the introducing of the Field Notebook to Second and Third Year students had greatly benefited them in the fields. By introducing the Geology Club T-Shirt, we manage to generate an extra income for the club to organise future activities in a subsidised fees. 

GGC + AAPG Banner

Curtin Geology Club 2013 T-shirt

Geological Field Notebook

The exhibitions that we had during the Petroleum Week and at Curtin Open Day brings out the hidden answers to the questions of many outsiders for all this year's which was 'What do geology student study? and Why are they studying rocks?' Curtin Geology booth was shown great interest by the visitors and is highly recommended in upcoming exhibitions.

CGC + AAPG booth during Innovation Expo

A short visit to Shell Core Lutong Centre on the 9th of October was a wrap up for all the activities that Curtin Geology Club organised in the Second Semester 2013. The short visit was to provide an insight to the role of geologists in oil and gas exploration and to establish a vital connection of our club members to the oil and gas industry in Malaysia. This activity was organised by Mohd Rasyid bin Zainol Abidin who is also the Vice President of the AAPG Student Chapter of Curtin Geology Club.  

 

Inside Core Centre Lab, Shell Lutong

CGC + AAPG members

All of the above activities are highly anticipated by the members of Geology club. This report could provide the basis for ideas for the upcoming activities by the future committee members to attract more membership to Curtin Geology Club. 

By,                                                                                                                   

                                                                                  

HIMERAJ ASHOGAN                                                                               

Chief Editor of Geology Club                    

Approved by,
MARNI AMALINA BINTI MANSOR

President of Curtin Geology Club and AAPG Student Chapter

Review of 1st Semester 2013

            2013 has arrived and our Geology students are on their best form. They are motivated, and were totally refreshed after 4 months long semester break. With our best form, the Curtin Geology Club & Curtin Sarawak AAPG Student Chapter has received a new fresh breath of hope and changes to better. The geology club has been an idle club for the past two years and now it is up to us to rejuvenate the club with much activities and give it a new look to promote our club to a newer heights. So, the previous committees of 2012 gathered all the Geology students to have a meeting to select the committees of 2013 where lecturers and students votes are valued and considered upon the selection of this committees. After an hour to two of polling, the selection was so that Marni Amalina Mansor is voted as the President of Curtin Geology Club & Curtin Sarawak AAPG Student Chapter. Other committee members were chosen to aid her in running the club. 

Board of Committees Curtin Geology Club & Curtin Sarawak AAPG Student Chapter 2013:

President                                  : Marni Amalina Mansor

Vice President I                        : Mohd Rasyid Zainol Abidin

Vice President II                       : Premendran Manokaran

Secretary                                  : Ching Siu Ru

Vice Secretary                          : Nur Faridah Yaakob

Treasurer                                  : Harshinee  Nyanasegeram

Vice Treasurer                          : Gan Ying Bein

PR. Officer                               : Sally Jane

Head of Project Manager         : Shantha Kumaran Manogaran

Editor of i-Geology                   : Himeraj Ashogan

Assistant Editor                         : Tai Kui Tong

After the committee members were selected, the meeting proceeded by diverting the attention to the Geology students as well as the lecturers on the type of activities they expect from the current Geology Club committees. Here deep thoughts were looked into and activities listed below were selected as this semesters must organise club activities.

a) Hill Challenge 1: Canada Hill Challenge
b) Foundation Engineering Awareness Campaign 
c) Collaboration with Curtin Environmental Club on Earth Day
d) Talk : Cave, Caverns, Crystals and Complexity
e) Hill Challenge 2: Mulu Expedition

This listing of activities marked the ending of the meeting where it was ended with a nice refreshment sponsored by the Geology Club.

            On the following week, an Annual General Meeting was organised by Marni Amalina Mansor as the President of Curtin Geology Club to interact with the current club committees and as well as to inform the standings of our club financially and our capabilities in doing the activities in that semester. The discussion heads on to discussing the few changes that the committee members thought it is necessary for the club to progress ahead for this semester. The few of the many changes that we brought by the discussion was to introduce a club T-Shirt and to open the selling of the T-Shirt to the club members as well as the non-members. Besides that, the club registration too was opened to the whole Curtin students who wishes to learn more about Geology. A result from that, our club funding rose up dramatically and became a stable club in Curtin with people coming from different programmes and backgrounds just to learn Geology out of their own interest.

            Our first activity was held on the 13th of April, which was the Hill Challenge 1 : Canada Hill. This activity was to promote a good understanding between our club members. Here a lot of mingling could be seen where the club committees were tirelessly aiding to a closer bonding in the group. We finally achieved that agenda by the end of the challenge. Moreover, this hill challenge was also aimed at students from a different programme who wonders how geology fieldtrips looks like. So yea, this small challenge gave them a new light on how proper fieldtrips that geology students often go look like.

Hill Challenge 1: Canada Hill Hiking

            Our proceeding activities are aimed to teach students of different programmes on Geology. This is to expose the students that Geology is not as easy as it sounds but nevertheless interesting. So, a booth was set up in business school on Foundation Engineering Awareness Campaign to expose the foundation students on Geology. To teach them to choose geology out of interest and not as a last resort. So a few 2nd year students were chosen to deliver speech to these foundation students on what to expect in Geology. They were given speech on how a geology students think where here we brought a few rock samples from the laboratory to demonstrate to the students on how a geology student work and think. It was such a delightful scene to see some of the foundation students eager to know more about geology.

Engineering Awareness Day

            Besides Foundation Engineering Awareness Campaign, we have also collaborated with Curtin Environmental Club to host the Earth Day. Here, the Curtin Geology Club set up another booth with a lots of displays from the laboratory as well as from the Malaysian Nature Society where here Mr. Musa Musbah to be thanked to bring the MNS to Curtin Sarawak on Earth Day. Geology club gained an enormous popularity from the public due to its eloquent students who were ready to explain the details of the displays and to entertain any by-passers who comes to the booth and as well Mr Musa for explaining the details of MNS samples using a polarising microscope. The event was ended with a vegetarian refreshment organised by the Curtin Environmental Club.

Curtin Geology Booth during Earth Day

            

Rocks and Minerals Display

            Our second last activity to end the semester was the Cave, Caverns, Crystal and Complexity talk by our very own lecturer Dr. Dominique Dodge-Wan. It was an hour plus long talk compromising about the different types of caves, the crystal that were formed from this caves and how complex this caves affects our daily life. This too was aimed in the visualisation on the type of lectures that a geology student undergoes every day in a semester. Many found it interesting and it nevertheless attracted quite a number of participants into understanding Geology in a new limelight. This event too was ended with a refreshment sponsored by Curtin Geology Club. 

Academic Talk: Caves, Caverns, Crystal and Complexity

            Semester 1 2013 was ended with the 2^nd Hill Challenge which is Mulu Expedition, held on 29^th June to 2^nd of July at Mulu National Park includes long boat ride, visit to 5 different types of caves in Mulu which is the Deer Cave, Lang Cave, Clearwater Cave, Wind Cave and Lady Cave and last but not least to challenge the Pinnacles which is a limestone covered hill with an elevation of 40-90 degree. 8km trekking was covered first in order to reach the camp where the Pinnacles hiking challenge begins. The purpose of the event which are to enhance awareness in preserving nature heritage and practice active and healthy lifestyle is successfully attained.

In Front of Caves in Mulu

Boat Ride

At the jetty

The Pinnacles

Much activities are planned for this semester. Do wait for it!

PGCE 2013

The 36th Petroleum Geoscience Conference & Exhibition (PGCE 2013) is one of the largest and premier Geoscience events in South East Asia. The two-day programme includes a comprehensive Geoscience conference, technical exhibition, student programme, short courses, geological field trips, a golf tournament and also a gala dinner. Its emphasis on multi-disciplinary approaches to geosciences and related engineering disciplines attract participants globally. 

PGCE was founded by Geological Society of Malaysia (GSM) in 1977 and is now an annual event co-organized by Malaysia’s national oil company, PETRONAS and managed by a professional society, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers (EAGE). In 2012, PGCE set numerous new precedence, including registering for the first time more than 2,000 delegates and 44 exhibitors from various parts of the world including United Kingdom, Russia, Australia, Japan, India and Indonesia. 

This unique event designed for the professional geosciences community provides excellent exhibition and sponsorship opportunities offering ideal ways to showcase equipments and services, strengthen and expand networks and promote new businesses and alliances. Whether it is your goal to have maximum exposure and visibility at the event, support a particular sponsor activity or enhance your image; PGCE 2013 will provide a perfect opportunity to reach thousands of geoscientists. This year, the prestigious conference will be held from 18-19 March 2013 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre with the theme ‘Innovative Geoscience: Securing Energy Needs’. 

Official Welcoming Letter as New AAPG Student Chapter

             American Association of Petroleum Geologists   

                                                An International Geological Organization

      Mail:  P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, OK  74101-0979 USA   w  1444 South Boulder, Tulsa,  OK  74119 USA

December 1, 2012

Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Student Chapter of AAPG

Welcome to the AAPG Student Chapter Program:

Dear Mohd Suhaimi, Dr. Nagarajan Ramasamy, and members of the Chapter:

I want to welcome your university into the AAPG Student Chapter Program.  At AAPG we want all of our Student Chapters to be successful and prominent in their leadership roles within their university.

To maintain active status, a Student Chapter must submit a current list of all AAPG student members that are a member of your university student chapter (please include full name and member #) at the beginning of each school year.  A list of officers is required at this time as well.  I also need reports on the activities your group participates in.  The requirement is two reports, one in December and the other at the end of the school year in May or June.  Keep updated with the latest news about AAPG Student programs by subscribing to the Student Outlook blog at: http://blog.aapg.org/students/   

You may wish to take advantage of e-mail access by forwarding me chapter news updates at:  students@aapg.org.

  The following web-site http://students.aapg.org is the official AAPG Student Chapter web-site. This site contains all of the details about the program.  If you have any questions please refer to the web-site, and if you have difficulty in locating the information you need, please do not hesitate to let me know.  You might pass along this information to your student chapter members.

Addendum to the Faculty Advisor:

As you know, the purpose of this Association (AAPG)  is to advance the science of geology, especially as it relates to petroleum, natural gas, and other energy mineral resources; to promote the technology of exploring for, finding, and producing these materials from the earth; to foster the spirit of scientific research throughout its membership; to disseminate information relating to the geology and the associated technology of petroleum, natural gas, and other energy mineral resources; to inspire and maintain a high standard of professional conduct on the part of its members; to provide the public with means of recognition of adequately trained and professional responsible petroleum geologist; and to advance the professional well-being of its members.

A strong student program, both graduate and undergraduate is a vital part of the Association.  Additionally, student chapters also provide a means of contact with the geological profession both inside and outside of academia.

That contact, facilitated through the Student Chapter Program, is of benefit to the AAPG, to the university, and to students.

Each student chapter must choose a faculty advisor and this is the role that AAPG wishes you to take on.  The faculty advisor must be an Active or Associate member of AAPG and will serve as the liaison between AAPG and the Student Chapter. Additional duties of the Faculty Advisor are to be aware of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules of AAPG and assure the Chapter’s adherence to them; to assure that the Chapter prepares and delivers their reports to Headquarters as per the schedule; and to be a repository for the Chapter’s records.  The success (or failure) of a Student Chapter is often related to the participation (or lack of) of the faculty advisor. Even the most energetic of Student Chapter Presidents need the support and encouragement of the faculty advisor. When selecting your advisor(s) we suggest you talk with them beforehand such that they may be aware of, and be willing to accept the responsibility.

Addendum to the President:

I realize that it is difficult to balance the many hats we have to wear and to keep our priorities in proper perspective--juggling school, work, family, and extracurricular activities. 

At the same time, I hope you will look upon your position as President of your Student Chapter as a wise career choice that enhances your leadership abilities, which will contribute to the future of your profession.

It only takes a few simple steps to assure the success of your Chapter:

1) Set goals that are specific and realistic.

2) Hold meetings regularly.

3) Follow up with a note to me to maintain a high level of communication at AAPG.

In doing so you’ll find efficient communication with AAPG to be beneficial.  You will also be able to maintain your active status, which ensures continued receipt of any new turn of events here at AAPG. 

I am glad for the opportunity to work with you.  Remember that I am here to help you attain your goals.  If I can be of assistance or offer you any encouragement, please call me.

Sincerely,

                        

Mike Mlynek                                                                                                                               Assistant Manager, AAPG Member Services

Brian McBroom                                                                                                                               Member Services Specialist, AAPG Member Services

Student Focus

Have you renewed your membership?

Have you renewed your AAPG Membership for 2012-2013 Session?

Follow these simple steps:

1. Go this link- http://students.aapg.org/

2. Then click on the 'renew'-  RENEW your current student membership through Chevron's generous support. It is located near the Chevron logo.

3. Click Online Request Form (complete through browser) located at the right sidebar. It is at the most bottom in the sidebar as shown below.

Download a form and return to AAPG:

PDF (print and return by fax or mail)

PDF Form (compete and submit electronically)

MSWord Form Doc(complete and submit electronically or by fax or mail)

Online Request Form(complete through browser)

4. Fill in the form. Tick where appropriate.