Monday, December 1, 2008
Talking with industry personel
While at home for thanksgiving holidays, I had spoken with some of individuals I worked with over the summer. These people are field operators that maintain and operate oil wells as well as an oil battery. Energy board guidelines must be followed strictly by field personnel, and the board is primarily made up of environmental engineers. Obtaining an understanding of the attitude displayed by petroleum professionals towards environmentalists is very important for this type of project. I also learnt a little about some of the attitudes environmental engineers display towards petroleum personnel. Some of the beliefs, attitudes, norms, etc, are logged in booklet I took with me.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Update for thanksgiving holidays
Big plans to get alot of this done while I am at home for thanksgiving. I plan on speaking with some industry professionals about some environmental background as a 'culture'. I talked to my boss and he had indicated that he may know someone I could talk to.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Cultural Immersion Project Journal - Environmental Engineering
I have chosen to explore the culture of the environmental engineering studies in industry, specifically here at Montana Tech. This is something that has never really sparked my interest until now. As I move into a career as a petroleum engineer, special regard for the environment is becoming increasingly important. By analyzing other students that are in the environmental program and speaking with professionals in the industry will give me a better understanding of why this field of study will become so important in my life. From this I will be able to build a comprehension of the similarities and contrasts between environmental engineers as opposed to petroleum engineers.
Thus far, I know one environmental engineer that is currently a senior in the program, and I believe he also carries a double major with civil engineering. I believe he will give me great insight of what some of the environmental students views are toward the oil and gas industry, especially petroleum engineers. Being a senior, he should have experienced more within his culture having a less bias opinion than would a possibly skewed view that a freshman of sophomore might occupy. He also will contain more experience in this industry having previously worked a couple of internships during his last few summers. I believe a young view is very important in conducting this kind of study, as their opinions are less likely to be corrupted by past history or unhealthy relations to another individual (ie. petroleum engineers).
An environmental student’s view of this culture compared to petroleum students view may differ greatly, which is why I believe it is important to obtain a common attitude shared amongst the petroleum program toward to environmental program. I have developed my own predetermined attitude, but it also may differ from that of my peers. Obtaining a generalized perception of both cultures is significant in understanding what attitudes are shared, and what attitudes contrast. By understanding both one can develop an open minded approach in dealing with the other culture in school as well as ones future career. Even the short discussion that was held in class with some of my peers and Chad Okrusch, it is learned that the opinions differ with the issue of global warming. Some of my peers believe that it is somewhat of hoax, and instead only a natural occurrence. Chad mentioned that he believes it is partially a natural occurrence but it also exists because of the pollutants that humans have pumped into the atmosphere through the combustion and use of fossil fuels.
The methods used in the industry are starting to change greatly in regard to the environment. Previous practices of the energy industry were focused on how to make a quick dollar with a certain disregard for the environment. Government laws are becoming much more strict holding oil and gas companies accountable for their actions affecting the environment. These laws are then regulated and carried by environmental personnel working either with or against the energy industry. I realize that this will be a part of my everyday work, so I think that an open minded understanding of this culture is important so I can work with them, instead of against.
Thus far, I know one environmental engineer that is currently a senior in the program, and I believe he also carries a double major with civil engineering. I believe he will give me great insight of what some of the environmental students views are toward the oil and gas industry, especially petroleum engineers. Being a senior, he should have experienced more within his culture having a less bias opinion than would a possibly skewed view that a freshman of sophomore might occupy. He also will contain more experience in this industry having previously worked a couple of internships during his last few summers. I believe a young view is very important in conducting this kind of study, as their opinions are less likely to be corrupted by past history or unhealthy relations to another individual (ie. petroleum engineers).
An environmental student’s view of this culture compared to petroleum students view may differ greatly, which is why I believe it is important to obtain a common attitude shared amongst the petroleum program toward to environmental program. I have developed my own predetermined attitude, but it also may differ from that of my peers. Obtaining a generalized perception of both cultures is significant in understanding what attitudes are shared, and what attitudes contrast. By understanding both one can develop an open minded approach in dealing with the other culture in school as well as ones future career. Even the short discussion that was held in class with some of my peers and Chad Okrusch, it is learned that the opinions differ with the issue of global warming. Some of my peers believe that it is somewhat of hoax, and instead only a natural occurrence. Chad mentioned that he believes it is partially a natural occurrence but it also exists because of the pollutants that humans have pumped into the atmosphere through the combustion and use of fossil fuels.
The methods used in the industry are starting to change greatly in regard to the environment. Previous practices of the energy industry were focused on how to make a quick dollar with a certain disregard for the environment. Government laws are becoming much more strict holding oil and gas companies accountable for their actions affecting the environment. These laws are then regulated and carried by environmental personnel working either with or against the energy industry. I realize that this will be a part of my everyday work, so I think that an open minded understanding of this culture is important so I can work with them, instead of against.
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