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Key research themes
1. How can chemical engineering design education better integrate environmental and sustainability considerations in plant and process development?
This theme focuses on the integration of preliminary chemical plant design education with environmental protection and sustainability to prepare engineers for future challenges. It emphasizes that early design stages must balance economic, technical, and environmental factors, including pollution abatement and waste minimization, to develop safe, cost-effective, and sustainable chemical processes.
Key finding: This text emphasizes preliminary process engineering by incorporating not only process design steps such as site selection and equipment lists but also pollution abatement considerations as essential parts of early-stage... Read more
Key finding: The book integrates economic considerations with engineering design principles in chemical plants, discussing cost estimation alongside waste disposal and environmental management. It situates economic viability alongside... Read more
Key finding: This paper argues for embedding sustainability directly into chemical engineering education by combining process and product engineering perspectives. It proposes curricular frameworks that prepare engineers to address... Read more
Key finding: The training course highlights the critical need for non-engineering professionals to understand fundamental chemical engineering concepts including waste treatment and environmental responsibility. It demonstrates that broad... Read more
2. What methodologies enhance the integration of chemical engineering theory and practice through experiential design projects?
This research area addresses educational methodologies that bridge theoretical coursework and practical chemical engineering application via design projects. It reveals that case studies, design challenges situated within authentic engineering problems, and iterative instructor-supervised projects improve student comprehension of system thinking, engineering economics, and multidisciplinary collaboration critical for chemical plant design.
Key finding: This work provides a detailed case study-based pedagogical approach wherein comprehensive technical and economic feasibility studies precede detailed equipment design, emphasizing the phased design approach. It stresses the... Read more
Key finding: Affirming a similar case study approach, this text expands on standards for documenting plant design projects to meet professional institutional requirements (e.g., IChemE). It underscores the importance of integrating... Read more
Key finding: This pedagogical study incorporates engineering design challenges embedded in general chemistry labs for engineering freshmen. It applies a model-eliciting activities framework that fosters experimental design, graphical... Read more
3. How can digital tools and evolving technologies transform chemical engineering education and training to meet industry and academic demands?
This theme investigates adoption of digital technologies—such as Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs), webinars, and flexible software platforms—in chemical engineering education and continuous professional development. It identifies opportunities to expand accessibility, improve flexibility in learning modalities, and support collaborative and remote training while maintaining rigorous content delivery aligned with evolving industry expectations.
Developments in the provision of chemical engineering teaching and training to industry and academia
Key finding: This paper presents a detailed examination of VLEs like Blackboard and Moodle as platforms delivering chemical engineering materials in diverse formats accessible across devices. The integration of webinars facilitates... Read more
Key finding: While focusing on pedagogy, this work highlights the imperative for chemical engineering education to evolve dynamically, including embracing digital resources and active learning approaches. It stresses cultivating... Read more