The newly-formed AAPG Malaysian Special Interest Group held their first gathering and welcomed Dr Mazlan Madon, the custodian, author and well known authority on the Malaysian Continental Shelf. Mazlan is a recognized figure for both his experience and also his publications, with the “Petroleum Geology and Resources of Malaysia” still a key reference for petroleum geologists.

The first event, on the 9th of December 2019, was titled “Geology and the Law of the Sea” where Mazlan talked us through his current role working for the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). After an introduction on CLCS the presentation gave overviews on the complex issues and examples of countries geological and geophysical inputs to defining the shelf. The talk piqued the interest of a wide range of attendees and resulted in a full house, a testament to Mr Madon and also the interest level of professionals within Kuala Lumpur to attend such technical presentations and networking events. The full audience asked many questions around the laws, conventions, technical guidelines and impact of the commission. It was great to also see such a different role and topic on the varied future of geoscience. 

Thank you to Schlumberger for hosting our first event, to Mr Quinn for the unique Geology themed token of appreciation for the speaker, not forgetting the committee and attendees for their energy and enthusiasm. We are looking forward to more upcoming events throughout 2020.