AIChE celebrated the contributions of Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEO of Ecolab, and Michael K. Wirth, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Chevron, in recognition of their commitment to a cleaner, safer, and healthier world and for their dedication to the advancement of diversity and equity across their workforces and within the engineering profession, at the 2022 AIChE Gala, held December 1 in New York City.
The gala also honored Paula T. Hammond, Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, who received the AIChE Foundation’s Doing a World of Good Medal. The prize salutes the achievements of an individual who has advanced the societal contributions of engineers. In addition to her research in nanomaterials — with applications in targeted drug delivery and electrochemical energy devices — Hammond was recognized for her leadership in creating a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive engineering talent pool.
“One of my greatest joys has been the ability to mentor scientists and engineers, and to be able to watch them as they grow and evolve their own ideas, succeed, and contribute to the future. It is my hope to be able to reach and have an impact on the many promising future engineers who may not always be encouraged or exposed to the wonders of science and technology.”
The evening raised more than $500,000 to underwrite K–12 programs designed to inspire imaginations and attract and retain students from underrepresented groups for the STEM professions, in order to foster a more equitable and inclusive workforce.