DIARY DATE:
Event: IMarEST President’s Lecture – Reflections on offshore engineering, research and education
Dates: Monday 13 October 2008
Venue: IMarEST Headquarters, 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ
Organiser: IMarEST
Further information: www.imarest.org/events
‘REFLECTIONS ON OFFSHORE ENGINEERING RESEARCH & EDUCATION’ - IMarEST PRESIDENT’S LECTURE
Set against a background of high oil prices, a push to replenish onshore and offshore reserves, and exploratory successes in giant offshore oil & gas fields in America, Brazil, Russia and West Africa, Professor Yoo Sang Choo will give the President’s Day Lecture at the headquarters of Institute Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) on Monday 13 October.
Professor Yoo Sang Choo, the 106th President of IMarEST and the first President from the Far East, will combine an autobiographical tour de force charting his career in Malaysia, UK, USA and Singapore with selected examples of R&D projects for which Singapore’s Centre for Offshore Research & Engineering (CORE) has received support from government agencies and organisations.
The lecture is open to members and non-members alike. Entitled ‘Reflections on Offshore Engineering Research & Education’ it will also reflect on courses grooming the next generation of engineers for the industry. “It is heartening that the efforts in education, training, and research and development, in close partnership with the industry, are bearing fruit and providing the motivation for further developments,” says Professor Choo.
In addition to looking at exploratory successes that pose technical challenges for cost-effective and environmentally friendly developments in deepwater and arctic regions, Professor Choo will also be looking at brown-fields, where structural integrity management is becoming increasingly important in order to extend production.
Additionally the President will be discussing a major concern, the ‘big crew change, for which the industry needs to attract young talent with the relevant background training and experience. “ The ready access for students to undergraduate and graduate courses in tertiary institutions, technical publications, short courses and conferences by institutions such as IMarEST will advance the training and professional development of engineers, scientists and technologists in the industry,” says Professor Choo.
“Guests to the Institute are in for a real treat on 13 October, we have two splendid lectures taking place that day,” explains IMarEST Chief Executive Keith Read. “Alan Cartwright, PLA Marine Engineer, Port of London Authority will be the first speaker delivering a mid-afternoon technical lecture on ‘A low-resistance, low-emission solution for patrol and pilotage operations’; and following a break for tea, we have the President’s Lecture – always a highlight of the Institute’s year.
“Yoo Sang has had a fascinating working life and consequently has an interesting and highly relevant story to tell. It is fitting that he will be joining us just a month before the Singapore Branch, in which he has been so active, celebrates its Golden Anniversary with a celebratory dinner to be attended by up to 500 members and guests.”
Back to the beginning
Professor Choo will first provide an autobiographical sketch. He completed pre-university education in Malaysia before studying engineering at the University of Manchester, where he was mentored by Prof Michael Horne, and worked on structural schemes for deep-sea production systems. He acquired design and engineering expertise through offshore projects in Vickers Offshore (in UK) and McDermott (in Singapore and USA) before joining the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1987. He continues to maintain close collaboration with international experts in academia and industry.
The presentation continues with the examples of R&D projects for which CORE has received support from organisations including Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust and Keppel Offshore & Marine and will reflect on the wide variety of offshore engineering courses which are conducted in NUS to prepare for the “big crew change”.
About the evening
The President’s Lecture is open to all, and there is no charge for attending. Alan Cartwright’s Technical Lecture is at 16.15; this is followed at 17.00 by tea; the President’s Lecture begins at 17.30 and a reception follows. Online registration will open shortly; and registrations can be emailed to events@imarest.org. Further information is available from the Events Department at IMarEST the Events Department at IMarEST, 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2655. Fax: +44 (0)20 7382 2667. Email: events@imarest.org
About the 106TH President
Professor Yoo Sang Choo (Yoo Sang) was born in Kampar, Malaysia in 1953. He attended Pei Yuan School in Kampar, and Anglo Chinese School in Ipoh in Malaysia before embarking on his undergraduate studies in the University of Manchester. He graduated with First Class Honours in 1977, and was supervised by Professor M. R. Horne for his MSc and PhD projects. He worked on structural behaviour of deepsea production systems before joining VO Offshore (U.K.) to design floating and fixed offshore structures. He returned to Singapore in 1984 and worked for McDermott South East Asia on the design, analysis and installation of offshore platforms. He joined the National University of Singapore in 1987, and served as Director of CAE/CAD/CAM Centre from 1995 to 1999, and then in the Department of Civil Engineering since 1999.
Yoo Sang is Founding Director of the Centre for Offshore Research & Engineering (CORE), and Director of the Offshore Engineering Programme in Department of Civil Engineering in National University of Singapore (NUS).
Yoo Sang has been invited to serve in many scientific or technical committees for international organisations and conferences, and three journals. He served as President of Singapore Structural Steel Society in 1992 to 1994, and in the Board of Directors, International Society of Offshore & Polar Engineers (ISOPE) during 2000-2002. He has been Visiting Professor to Delft University of Technology since 2000. He served as the Chairman for the Joint Branch of The Royal Institution of Naval Architects and The Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology (IMarEST) in Singapore for 4 years. He has served as member of Editorial Boards for Journal of Marine Structures, International Journal of Ships and Offshore Structures, and Journal of Marine Engineering and Technology.
Yoo Sang is National Convenor and member of International Standards Organisation TC8/SC8/WG Ship structures – Ultimate strength limit state assessment, and the International Institute of Welding Sub-commission XV-E: Tubular Structures. He is Correspondent for Singapore and member of Technical Committee III.1: Ultimate Strength in International Ships and Offshore Structures Congress.
Yoo Sang has received a number of international and national recognitions in recent years. These include two ISOPE Awards for his significant contributions to the International Society of Offshore & Polar Engineers. His research team also won the Stanley Gray Award for best paper in offshore technology presented by the Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology in 2001, and the Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award presented by the Institution of Engineers Singapore in 2003. He is a recipient of the Stanley Gray Medal from IMarEST in 2005 and the James Watt Medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2005.
Yoo Sang was conferred the Honorary Fellowship of Singapore Structural Steel Society (SSSS) in August 2004 in recognition of his technical expertise, outstanding contribution and development in Offshore and Structural Engineering. He has served as technical consultant in major offshore projects, and participates in international joint industry projects. His research interests include installation engineering, tubular structures and marine operations.
Yoo Sang is happily married to Pin, who is a Systems Consultant. They have three children: Yuan is in his 3rd year medical course in the University of Manchester, Min is in her 2nd year engineering science programme in NUS, and Yang is serving his national service. Yoo Sang’s hobbies are music, photography and cooking.
Further press information from:
Judith Patten @ JPPR
34 Ellerker Gardens, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6AA, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8241 1912; Fax: +44 (0) 20 8940 6211
Email: judithpatten@wwmail.co.uk
Voucher copies/tear sheets with coverage are always welcome, as is a simple notification of use of the release to judithpatten@wwmail.co.uk
