IPAA Education Center

Educating the public and policymakers about the American oil and natural gas industry has been a priority of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the industry's other state and national trade groups. I want to take this opportunity to update you on some of IPAA's initiatives on energy education and workforce development.

Doris Richardson is Director of the IPAA Education Center in Houston. She comes to IPAA not only a teacher, but also a facilitator of professional development workshops at colleges and universities across the United States. Her great-grandfather and grandfather were wildcatters in Texas, and her father owned a successful oil services company. She provides us with a unique understanding of the need for educational outreach initiatives due to her knowledge of our industry and our educational system.

Doris is coordinating several IPAA initiatives in the public education and workforce areas, including:

• Establishing an Academy for Petroleum Exploration, Production and Technology in the Houston Area for students which will open its doors in September 2008 with help from a grant from the IPAA Educational Foundation.

• Sponsoring the 49th Science and Engineering Fair of Houston which is the second largest of its kind in the nation for middle and high school students in grades 7-12, attracting more than 35,000 projects. Doris served as a judge at the fair for the following categories: Energy & Transportation, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Electrostatic Water Generation, Whizzing Windmills, Fuel for Thought: The Power of Platinum, Greening Our Future, Using a Light Pipe for Increased Photovoltaic Power, Solar Future and Liquid Electricity.

• Facilitating the addition of an energy education curriculum in both the Houston and Spring Branch Independent School Districts. Doris is working with the Offshore Energy Center and its team of teachers to educate K-12th grade students about oil and gas industry careers. The Petroleum Equipment Suppliers (PESA), American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) and the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), through their support and generous contributions, have enabled us to move forward on this project.

• Working with Halliburton, Schlumberger and Oceaneering on field trips to stimulate educator and student interest in career opportunities with the industry.

• Coordinating with the World Affairs Council of Houston to launch the Global Energy Initiative. This program brings energy policy issues to students. Over 330 Texas teachers benefited from the Council's energy programs impacting 43,000 students statewide. The IPAA Educational Foundation is one of the largest sponsors of this program.

IPAA is also working on other important initiatives, including:

National "Educational Advocacy" Program. IPAA is working closely with the American Petroleum Institute, which is funding a national "Educational Advocacy" program. This program includes national television and print advertisements. Other components of the program could include a traveling "Laboratory" or exhibit; a series of executive-level speeches in key cities; educational seminars for congressional staff; "salons," or dialogue sessions for industry, business and political experts; media outreach (editorial board meetings); and informational materials, such as a website and fact sheets.

Targeted Advertising in Texas. The IPAA Educational Foundation provided a grant to the Foundation for Energy Education Program. This grant will help fund television and print advertisements in the Houston area to educate the public about the American oil and natural gas industry.

Museum Programs. The IPAA Educational Foundation also provided grants to the East Texas Oil Museum at Kilgore College and the Woodlands Children's Museum. At the East Texas Oil Museum, the grant supports an educational initiative to expand their "Got Oil Café," a program that provides training for teachers, and classroom activities for students, promoting knowledge of the industry. At the Woodlands, the grant supports the "Power of Science" exhibit and a working science lab.

IPAA Energy Education Coordination Council. IPAA is gathering information on all state and national education programs to serve as a clearinghouse for cooperating associations.

Of course, our communications department is also working hard to educate the media and public on key industry issues. We've been quoted by major news media, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Dow Jones and more. Our Washington Report and website are an invaluable resource for our members, as well as policymakers in Washington. And our grassroots network – now with more than 50,000 members – is working efficiently to get our message heard on Capitol Hill.

Your support makes our education efforts possible. IPAA is committed to fostering educational growth in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as helping identify the next generation of energy industry leaders. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Barry Russell
IPAA President & CEO

Identifying America's Next Generation of Energy Industry Leaders

Energy is a fundamental part of our universe. It powers machinery and is an essential raw material for many common products. We use energy everyday to do our work, warm and cool our homes, fuel our cars, cook our food and play our music. The current and future demands for energy are enormous. As America’s oil and natural gas industry tries to supply ever-increasing demand, we are looking for the next generation of energy industry leaders.

According to a 2004 survey conducted by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the average age in the oil and gas industry is 49. This is among the oldest of any industry. As well, the National Petroleum Council projects a personnel shortage of approximately 40 percent as a result of workforce retirements over the next decade.

We are witnessing a significant shortage in the number of students obtaining university degrees in petroleum engineering and geo-sciences - fewer than 1,000 students are projected to graduate from such programs in 2006. This is more than a 90 percent drop since 1982.

IPAA is taking proactive steps to educate, encourage and develop America's next generation of energy industry leaders. Our mission is to engage high school students by providing the necessary resources, information and contacts that will help facilitate a career in the oil and gas industry.

We've created a resource brochure that is available to all interested parties. The brochure contains information designed to assist a graduating high school student as he or she maps out a career strategy and provides reassurance that careers in America’s oil and natural gas industry are diverse, challenging, rewarding and attainable. The brochure communicates that opportunities exist for men and woman, blue collar and white collar and those with a college degree and those without.

The brochure also provides tips for obtaining a career including placing an emphasis on math and science courses, internships and volunteer opportunities. And it provides contact information to other industry resources like the American Petroleum Institute, Society of Petroleum Engineers, and U.S. Department of Labor to name a few.

To view and print the brochure click on this link: To request hard copies please contact Therese McCafferty.

IPAA Educational Foundation Awards $100,000 to the Houston World Affairs Council

In February 2007, the IPAA Educational Foundation awarded the Houston World Affairs Council with the George and Barbara Bush Excellence in Education Award for 2006. The award is a $100,000 grant that will support the Council’s Educational Outreach Program. This award-winning program serves both public and private high schools in the Houston area and provides resources to schools with diverse ethnic student populations and economic challenges.

In partnership with IPAA, the Council will launch the Global Energy Initiative promoting a better understanding of energy issues to the broader Houston community. Today’s educators lack good and balanced information about international energy issues. It is the Council's goal to become known to teachers as a dependable source for balanced and timely information on all aspects of energy. Last year over 330 Texas teachers benefited from the Council's energy programs, which impacted 43,000 students statewide.

"One of IPAA's important missions is public education," said IPAA President Barry Russell. "The Houston World Affairs Council will provide us with proven strategies to reach teachers and students. We hope this effort will serve as a model for future endeavors."

In addition, other grants were awarded to the Foundation for Energy Education, East Texas Oil Museum (Kilgore College), the Woodlands Children’s Museum and the Youth Development Center.

The George and Barbara Bush Excellence in Education Award is funded by voluntary contributions and proceeds from IPAA's Wildcatters' Ball, an annual oil and natural gas industry-funded event. Past recipients of the award are: The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy; James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy; Global Energy Management Institute; Bauer College; University of Houston; YES College Preparatory School; Spring Branch Family Development Center; Offshore Energy Center; Be An Angel Fund; Small Steps Nurturing Center; and Project Grad.