Perspectives on 40-year careers—University of Calgary Chemical & Petroleum Engineering graduating class of 1983

Only a few of the students who graduated from Chemical & Petroleum Engineering at the University of Calgary found jobs in 1983 because of a severe recession and the National Energy Program artifically deflating the oil price. Despite the slow start to their careers, the graduates have made substantial contributions to industry, government agencies, and academia. They worked on over 60 projects in more than 40 countries, many of which were valued in the billions of dollars (excluding projects in Canada). Because of the volatility in the petroleum industry, the graduates often moved from one company to another: 6 individuals worked for 10 or more companies, while only 2 spent their entire career at a single company. In 1981, we were told that the half-life of an engineering career was 5 years, but while many did take up senior management positions and business roles, most remained very close to the engineering profession throughout their careers. Here, we summarize the career paths in broad terms, like how frequently graduates changed jobs, how much time they averaged in each company, and mention the role of education in their work. Of the 60 students who graduated in 1983, this perspective article excludes seven engineers who passed away prematurely, and another seven who could not be reached.