IChemE launches Sustainability Hub

ICHEME has launched its new Sustainability Hub, giving chemical engineers access to a suite of new, on-demand training courses and knowledge resources.

It comes as IChemE marks it centenary, with sustainability as the theme for February to recognise the work chemical engineers are doing in this area.

The new hub aims to inspire and support the chemical engineering community to make a positive impact on global sustainability by addressing the challenges presented by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It was made possible by a £200,000 (US$270,327) donation from business leader and IChemE Fellow, Ian Shott. He was keen to support the organisation in equipping members, and chemical engineers across all sectors in industry and academia, with the knowledge and skills to build upon sustainable practices.

The hub will also provide resources to show how chemical engineers play a vital role in supporting the SDGs, with particular focus on:

• SDG3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages
• SDG6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
• SDG7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• SDG12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

It will share stories of how chemical engineers are successfully supporting these SDGs, and sustainability more generally, for example through ethical decision-making.

Resources on sustainability within the hub include peer-reviewed papers and publications by chemical engineers, articles in The Chemical Engineer, videos from the volunteer project team, and newly-designed training courses to improve understanding and competency.

The on-demand training courses are free to IChemE members throughout 2022. Non-members will also be able to access the courses as part of IChemE’s training portfolio.

Throughout 2022, more content and courses, covering topics such as life-cycle analysis, circular economy, and the role of engineers in achieving net zero, will be launched and added to the hub to support chemical engineers in their professional development and learning.

Trish Melton, Chair of the Sustainability Hub Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and IChemE Fellow, said: “The Sustainability Hub is an exciting new resource for IChemE members. This will become the go-to resource for chemical engineers at all levels for sustainability training and knowledge. The hub will also help chemical engineers embed sustainable practices into their day-to-day work.

“The Sustainability Hub is an important achievement as part of IChemE’s commitment to responsible production and sustainability within Strategy 2024. We are hugely grateful to Ian Shott for his donation enabling the development of this new resource and this couldn’t have become a reality without the dedicated volunteer project team and IChemE employees.”

Shott, also a former IChemE President, said: “I’m thrilled that the Sustainability Hub is live and available to support members and the wider profession to embed sustainable practices and contribute significantly to the sustainable development goals. Ultimately, this is all about making society and the world a better place, and I’m confident that as this year progresses and more knowledge is shared, through a growing network, this hub will become an important aid for chemical engineers and will inspire new innovative solutions.”

The Sustainability Hub was introduced within the recently-aired programme Serving Society, co-produced by ITN Productions Industry News and IChemE. It showcased the leading work that chemical engineers are doing to create responsible processes, production and manufacture.

Join a training course and engage with the suite of knowledge resources by visiting the Sustainability Hub.