Unlocking Opportunity:
The Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering and the Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund
In today’s fast-moving and ultra-competitive world, it is more important than ever that students of all disciplines are able to make a mark while still at university by, for example, entering competitions, travelling to conferences, or assisting with (or conducting their own) research. Of course, the trouble is that these activities are often prohibitively expensive, with conferences and competitions typically requiring not only travel costs but steep registration fees too.
Enter the Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund, which was first set up on the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering's (IGE) 40th anniversary back in 2016. This marker coincided with Professor Adrian Todd's retirement from IGE, where he had served since its inception. Now, with the IGE due to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, what better time to look back on the Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund’s decade of impact?
Managed largely by Emeritus Professor Pat Corbett until his retirement, the Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund has proven instrumental in allowing generations of IGE undergraduate and postgraduate students to make the most of their education by attending conferences, research trips, and international competitions.
One regular beneficiary of the Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund is the University’s PetroBowl team. The PetroBowl Competition, held annually by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), pitches regional chapters from universities all over the world in a series of quick-fire rounds of industry-related questions. The Aberdeen SPE chapter, of which Heriot-Watt students are members, travelled in April 2025 to Paris, France, for the Europe Regional Qualifiers where, over three days, they competed with other European chapters (and, of course, squeezed in some tourism!).
The Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund has proven instrumental in allowing generations of IGE undergraduate and postgraduate students to make the most of their education.
“Their strong performance created an early and challenging matchup, but every moment on the field contributed to our growth and learning."
Representative of the Aberdeen SPE Chapter
“The exposure and networking opportunities have already opened doors for potential collaborations and further research development.”
Ali Al-Behadili
“In the first round, we faced the University of Leoben,” a representative from the team explained. “We secured a win and advanced to the next stage.”
The team’s next opponents were the hosts and defending PetroBowl champions of 2024: the IFP School SPE Student Chapter. “Their strong performance created an early and challenging matchup, but every moment on the field contributed to our growth and learning.”
Many more IGE students are poised to benefit from the Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund as the IGE approaches its
Anniversary
But the PetroBowl team has been just one beneficiary amongst many. Ali Al-Behadili, a PhD student at the IGE, explained how the Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund “enabled me to travel to the Netherlands to attend an international conference from 18th–21st March 2025, where I had the opportunity to present my research to a global academic audience. This experience was incredibly valuable, both professionally and academically. It allowed me to share my work, receive insightful feedback, improve my presentation skills, and engage with leading experts in my field. The exposure and networking opportunities have already opened doors for potential collaborations and further research development.”
Many more IGE students are poised to benefit from the Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund as the IGE approaches its 50th anniversary. Here’s to fifty more!
If you would like to support the Adrian Todd Golden Key Fund, please contact the Development and Alumni Office at giving@hw.ac.uk.
