Is There a Role for an AIChEE?

摘要

Innovation, like economic growth, tends to occur, not continuously, but rather in temporal waves. A previous wave of innovation was in fields related to information technology. The current wave of innovation encompasses biological processes, and this wave has prompted the American Institute of Chemical Engineers to reexamine the close relationship between chemical engineering and bioengineering. The next wave of innovative technologies is likely to be concerned with those that allow sustainable economic growth (especially in developing economies) without adversely affecting the air, the water, or climate. Sustainable economic growth points to the need for process modifications to eliminate chemical releases, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), toxic metals, acid gases, and greenhouse gases. This suggests a need for: 1. Chemical and environmental engineers working together 2. Departments of chemical and environmental engineering (combined) 3. Combined degree programs in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 4. A professional home, within the AIChE, for Environmental Engineers, who may or may not have ChE degrees Let us consider each of these ideas in turn.