Shining a light on some of the brightest up-and-coming minds in the energy sector was the focus of a special event held by the Aberdeen, Highlands and Islands branch of The Energy Institute (EI) on Wednesday, December 4th.

The organisation hosted its much-anticipated annual competition for MSc students in partnership with sponsors Imrandd and the Net Zero Technology Centre. It aims to unite industry and academia and showcase MSc student papers which demonstrate the latest thinking and research as well as enabling them to be recognised by future employers.

From over 400 candidates across Aberdeen’s two universities, the field was whittled down to a shortlist of just four students representing the University of Aberdeen (UoA) and the Robert Gordon University (RGU).

Winning top honours in 2024 was Ibrahim Garba who is graduating with an MSc in Oil and Gas Engineering, receiving first prize of £250 for his thesis entitled: ‘CO2 Injectivity Assessment in Cormorant Field, North Sea.’

2024 winner Ibrahim said:
“Winning this award is an incredible honour, and I am deeply grateful to Robert Gordon University for fostering an environment of innovative and sustainable learning. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Energy Institute, Net Zero and IMRANDD for organising such a meaningful and impactful competition. It was a privilege to present my project on CCUS, a critical technology in the transition to sustainable energy solutions. This opportunity has reinforced my commitment to contributing to the global effort to achieve net-zero emissions, in alignment with the UNSDGs.”

Rebecca Allison, Chair of the local Energy Institute branch who hosted the evening at the Net Zero Technology Centre said: 
“This event has been running for more than 20 years and the quality of the students and their presentation topics continues to grow making this an extremely tough competition for participants and judges alike. 

“Our city’s two world-renowned universities bring to the marketplace some exceptionally talented students with innovative ideas, and it is extremely encouraging to see such in-depth, thoughtful and impactful research coming from the next generation of energy sector practitioners and leaders.”

Lead judge and sponsor, Innes Auchterlonie, CEO of Imrandd added: 
“We are proud to celebrate the exceptional research and innovative thinking demonstrated by this year’s student finalists. The judges were very impressed by their ability to tackle complex industry challenges with creativity and critical thinking. 

“At Imrandd, we are proud to support initiatives that cultivate and inspire the next generation of energy leaders. Competitions like this not only give us confidence in the future of the industry but also strengthen the important connection between academia and industry, paving the way for continued innovation and success.”

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Energy Institute (EI)   l   Imrandd