How the Chemical Engineer Will Shape the 21st Century

The current global economic meltdown, along with imbalances in energy ecology and equity, imply that the fundamental backbone of the global industrial world needs reinventing. This reinvention must lead to a new relationship between human and nature, which is not extractive but enriching; and is not consumption centric but conservation centric.

In order to achieve such a transformation across industries such as aerospace to energy & electronics, chemicals to textiles, and cosmetics to pharmaceuticals, Chemical Engineering has a strategic role to play. It can lead the way in reconfiguring conventional processes with new technologies - such as nano, bio, opto, info - while also giving them a higher level purpose. Such a resolve will also enable us to repurpose our agricultural sector, not only as source of food but as the source of a full range of new materials. These materials could serve as alternative renewable resources for construction, chemicals & drugs, energy, polymers, pharmaceuticals, and fibers.