Petroleum Authority's Executive Director, Ernest Rubondo said Ugandan women have benefited from the initiative by post-doctoral research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
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PAU Ernest Rubondo, Wallace Pescarini, the President of SLB Offshore Atlantic Basin flanked by Mr Nyombi Alex -Director Production at the PAU
Ernest Rubondo,
the Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, has commended SLB
(formerly known as Schlumberger) for its efforts in advancing women in Science
and Technology.
He was Wallace
Pescarini, the President of SLB Offshore Atlantic Basin, held at Petroleum
House in Entebbe.
SLB is one of
the firms that was contracted by TotalEnergies for drilling, completions, and production services for the
200,000-barrel-per-day Tilenga oil development area in the Albertine.
It also provides
software solutions for various oil and gas players involved in Uganda's oil projects.
Pescarini,
currently in the country to participate in the STEM Forum for Women in the East
African Region, hosted at the Kampala Serena Hotel, paid Rubondo a courtesy
visit.
The SLB Faculty
for the Future programme, launched in 2004, grants fellowships to women from
developing and emerging economies to pursue PhD or post-doctoral research in
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields at leading
universities worldwide.
Rubondo noted
that several Ugandan women have already benefited from this support and
appealed to SLB for increased assistance.
"The
initiative has promoted gender equality and women's emancipation in science and
technology. We understand that about seven Ugandan women have benefited from
the programme. We hope to see these numbers grow," said Rubondo.
Pescarini highlighted
SLB's longstanding partnership with Uganda spanning over 18 years, marked by
continuous investment, national capacity development, and innovative projects
ensuring the nation's energy security.
"We
acknowledge the crucial role of energy in driving Uganda's progress and believe
that collaborative efforts and shared objectives can lead to significant
advancements in shaping a sustainable energy future for Uganda, while also
addressing broader developmental goals," Pescarini remarked.
Pescarini and
the SLB team expressed their eagerness to collaborate closely with the PAU,
discussing initiatives and potential areas of cooperation, exchanging insights,
and outlining a path for mutually beneficial growth.
By supporting
STEM research for female scientists in emerging economies, SLB aims to enhance
scientific and technological progress within the local communities and regions
where selected candidates are awarded this programme.
Since its
inception in 2004, the SLB Faculty for the Future programme has benefitted 863
women from ninety countries, enabling them to pursue PhD and post-doctoral
research in STEM disciplines at leading universities and research institutions
outside their home countries.
