Webinar: Engineering a Sustainable World - The Chemical Engineering Challenge

Overview

During this webinar, you will hear the view of IChemE members about the future of the profession, and what chemical engineers can do to achieve IChemE’s vision, Engineering a Sustainable World. Four of the subject matter experts who advised us on this project will be on hand to tell you about the challenges ahead in Sustainable Systems, Energy, Food, Health & Wellbeing, and Water and Sanitation, and the opportunities for chemical engineers to help address these.

Engineering a Sustainable World: The Chemical Engineering Challenge informs chemical engineers at all career stages and in all sectors about how they can create societal benefits and help meet the challenges of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, the report aims to guide IChemE’s engagement externally, with policymakers, career advisors, university academics, and business decision-makers.

This is a timely piece of work. The world continues to grow rapidly, with frequent disruption and change. There are new and accelerating trends and issues – especially while managing environmental and societal impact, security, and technology. We needs a skilled workforce, professional expertise, and evidence-based solutions. The skills in professions are changing. This all adds up to a lot of change.

The report provides a perspective on “the profession’s view of the profession”. IChemE sought input from its 30,000 worldwide members to understand the perspectives of chemical engineers about the technical problems we are facing, and the role of chemical engineers in addressing them. The resulting report is the first fresh look in 15 years at the engineering challenges and IChemE’s contribution to their solution.

Speakers

Alexandra Meldrum, Honorary Associate Professor, University of Sydney

Alexandra was Vice President, Learned Society, from 2021 to 2024. Engineering a Sustainable World: The Chemical Engineering Challenge was one of the key outputs of the Learned Society function in IChemE during her time as Vice President.

Claudia Flavell-While, Director, Learned Society, IChemE

Claudia is the Director, Learned Society and was the lead staff member overseeing the development of the report.

Nilay Shah, Professor of Process Systems Engineering, Imperial College London (UK)

Nilay was a subject matter expert advising the project on energy.

Colin Newbery, Technical Director, Water, Jacobs (Singapore)

Colin was a subject matter expert advising the project on water.

Robin Smith, Director, Centre for Process Integration, The University of Manchester (UK)

Robin was a subject matter expert advising the project on sustainable systems.

David Platts, Founder, PDV Consultants (New Zealand)

David was a subject matter expert advising the project on food, health and wellbeing.

Webinar recording