Inspiring Extraordinary: Doing a World of Good 2023 Campaign Update

“Susmita and I encourage our peers to learn more about including the Foundation in their estate planning.”

—Syamal Poddar, AIChE Fellow

“Your contribution to the Doing a World of Good campaign will advance our efforts for years to come.”

Dear Friends

For more than a century, chemical engineers have improved the well-being of our global society. From developing smaller, faster computer chips to creating innovative solutions for recycling, disease treatment, water purification, and energy generation, these achievements have enriched all of our lives.

At the AIChE Foundation, we recognize the essential role that philanthropy plays in fostering these accomplishments. Your contribution to the Doing a World of Good campaign will advance our efforts for years to come.

In 2022, we experienced a substantial increase in fundraising, raising more than $13 million, thanks to your generous donations. This enabled us to expand our impact and reach. We are truly grateful for your support.

This past year, we launched Be a ChemE, a national campaign aimed at introducing K-12 students, their parents, teachers, and the public to the wonders and possibilities of a career in chemical engineering.

We’ve deployed K-12 STEM Ambassadors in elementary and middle schools to conduct science experiments and bring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to traditionally underserved populations.

We’re opening doors of opportunity through programs such as the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) and the Minority Affairs Community’s (MAC) Scholarship Awards.

We’re also supporting early-career researchers by providing unrestricted grants through the Langer Prize for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Excellence.

We invite you to discover the transformative power of your contribution by exploring the stories in this report. Since the campaign’s inception in 2015, we have raised $48 million. My fellow Trustees and I express our sincere gratitude to all our individual and corporate supporters. Together, we’re inspiring extraordinary.

All my best,

Bruce E. Chinn

Chair, AIChE Foundation Board of Trustees;

AIChE Fellow;

President & CEO, Chevron Phillips Chemical

Extraordinary Impact

The Doing a World of Good campaign funds five priorities that are transforming the profession and the world around us.

The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) at Howard University

On January 18th, the FOSSI team made its first on-campus visit to Howard University. Forty-two FOSSI Scholars attending Howard came together for lunch and a networking session with sponsoring companies.

“FOSSI opened my eyes to so many careers available to STEM majors,” said Cheyene Henry, Class of 2021 FOSSI Scholar, Howard University. “The program demonstrated the wide-ranging appeal of STEM across a variety of industries.”

In addition to the scholars, representatives from fifteen FOSSI partner companies joined the event from all over the U.S. and Canada.

During lunch, guests heard remarks from Dr. Kimberly Wise White, Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at the American Chemistry Council. Dr. White spoke about her experience as a triple HBCU graduate of Texas Southern University and how excited she is to work with the FOSSI program. “I have loved science for as long as I can remember. I am so inspired by the immense talent and diversity of the FOSSI scholars and the dedication of the chemical industry in supporting the next generation of STEM leaders.”

Introducing Be a ChemE

AIChE, in partnership with industry, academia, and other organizations, is launching a public campaign to inspire, attract, and develop the next generation of STEM talent. The Be a ChemE campaign, unveiled at the 2022 AIChE Gala in New York City, introduces middle school students, parents, teachers, and the public to exciting career possibilities in chemical engineering.

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▲ Artist’s mockup of the Be a ChemE bus, providing hands-on experiments and activities to inspire middle school students, parents, teachers, and the public about pursuing a career in chemical engineering.

The campaign will showcase the diverse opportunities available in chemical engineering fields through a new website, classroom lessons, a bus tour, a national competition, and an integrated marketing campaign, with the goal of creating a more inclusive and vibrant community.

ChemE Comics for K-12

To help K-12 students better understand the importance of chemical engineering in their daily lives, the AIChE Foundation funded the creation of five comics demonstrating how chemical engineering is utilized in everyday items and applications. The comics were made available to students at the AIChE K-12 STEM Showcase during the 2022 AIChE Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ, and are also available for download on the AIChE website.

Rising Star for All

In 2017, AIChE launched the successful Rising Star for Women program. In response to the need for more support for chemical engineers regardless of gender, AIChE created and launched the Rising Star for All program in 2022. In the first year, almost seventy participants joined one of two virtual meetings.

“Building support for the needs of talent strengthens the industry for the future,” said Michelle Caveness, AIChE Foundation Trustee and Vice President, TN Operations Site Leader and Global Operations Support at Eastman.

AIChE K-12 STEM Ambassadors Inspiring the Next Generation

The Edison Intermediate/Larry Larson Middle School in Columbus, OH, was the pilot site for the AIChE K-12 STEM Ambassador Program. This innovative initiative was designed to inspire young learners and introduce them to the world of STEM.

The K-12 STEM Ambassador Program represents a significant step toward bridging the gap in STEM education for underserved communities and fostering a new generation of STEM enthusiasts.

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▲ Tae Seok Moon, 2022 Langer Fellow, presents a talk at the 2022 AIChE Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.

Shooting for the Moon

Tae Seok Moon, a Council Member of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium, received the 2022 Langer Prize Fellowship at the AIChE Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.

The Langer Prize awards an unrestricted grant of up to $100,000 to enable creative researchers and engineering entrepreneurs in their early careers to pursue potentially game-changing innovations with transformative societal impact.

Dr. Moon recently spoke with us about his new company, Moonshot Bio, and its work on developing technology to turn plastic waste into beta-carotene. “Since China and India have banned importing plastic waste, there is no way in the U.S. to treat plastic bottles but to export them, recycle them, put them in a landfill, or burn them, which causes climate problems,” said Moon. “I hope to contribute to the community by helping to solve the plastic problem.”

On the Safe Side

Dow hosted its seventh AIChE Faculty Workshop — and the first process safety workshop located in Europe. Held over three days at Dow’s manufacturing facility in Tarragona, Spain, the workshop attracted 27 attendees from 18 universities and 8 countries.

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▲ Ignasi Cañagueral, Site Director at Dow, welcomes attendees to the 2022 Dow/AIChE Faculty Workshop in Tarragona, Spain.

AIChE Faculty Workshops were also held in 2022 by BASF in Wyandotte, MI, and Chemours in Corpus Christi, TX. In addition, Chevron conducted a workshop online.

“These faculty workshops are a must for anyone who doesn’t have industry experience,” said Jessica Winter, a professor at The Ohio State University.

Extraordinary Giving

“By working together as a donor community, we can make an extraordinary contribution to the profession and the world.”

Ann Lee & Bill Adams

Campaign Patrons

It doesn’t take higher math to make an extraordinary contribution. Just scan the QR code above and make a donation to the AIChE Foundation to join a community committed to advancing the profession and making a lasting positive impact on the world.