Fracking Attracting Increased Interest in Chemical Engineering at NCSU

Fracking has brought positive change to the energy industry as well as to many of the chemical engineering programs that support the industry. Recently, AIChE 2014 Past President Phil Westmoreland and two students from NC State University's Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering were interviewed by Time Warner Cable News about the University's chemical engineering program and its role in solving fracking's challenges and in helping the energy industry to continue to evolve.

Both students--Daniel Boren and his classmate Michael Geist--expressed special interest in fracking, and Boren in particular expressed interest in looking for ways to make it more efficient, safer, and more environmentally friendly. Commenting on their interest in fracking and their future in industry, Phil Westmoreland said, ""Worldwide we're seeing energy is a continuing concern. There's a great opportunity for all the students in the College of Engineering to shape the world that's coming." The article also points out that NCSU's chemical engineering graduates have doubled in number over the past decade, signaling the growing importance of and interest in the field. You can read the full interview here.

What area of chemical engineering got you interested in the field?