Apsey comes full circle: IChemE immediate past president welcomes new chemical engineers to Exeter, 25 years after graduating

New cohort welcomed with industry insights, leadership lessons and a call to shape the future

STUDENTS have returned to the University of Exeter – and for the first time in over 25 years, that includes a new cohort of chemical engineering undergraduates.

Nineteen students have enrolled in the new chemical engineering bachelor’s course – “more than we hoped,” says programme lead Ana Neves, who began developing the course two years ago.

Around 300 students make up the whole engineering class this year, which along with chemical engineering, civil and mechanical, includes new entrants in robotics and systems engineering.

Uniquely, all students regardless of speciality will spend the first half of their degree in a “common first year”, learning the fundamentals of engineering together, with a focus on mathematics, materials and electronics.

Starting up

To spark interest in chemical engineering, the university invited IChemE and a panel of chemical engineers – from early-career professionals to seasoned experts – to discuss the profession’s vital role in a climate-conscious world.

In a lecture theatre on the university’s Streatham campus, engineering students gathered to hear firsthand from chemical engineering experts about their experiences.

“Ours is a profession with extraordinary reach, from energy to water, medicine and manufacturing, to even the devices in our pockets – engineers are behind all of it.”

Mark Apsey

Opening the event with a reflection on the breadth and impact of chemical engineering, Mark Apsey, IChemE immediate past president, reminded attendees of the profession’s far-reaching influence: “Ours is a profession with extraordinary reach, from energy to water, medicine and manufacturing, to even the devices in our pockets – engineers are behind all of it.”

IChemE Student Ambassador Laura Thompson, now in her second year studying chemical engineering at the University of Bath, spoke about the support she received from IChemE when starting her course. She highlighted the value of free student membership and the sense of community it provides. “Upon signing up [to the membership] you get a whole host of benefits, you can join a special interest group, go on site visits, and get access to IChemE Connect, where you can talk to expert engineers directly,” she said.

Thompson’s advice to students was to “get involved”, specifically through IChemE Student Membership, which had given her access to a network of Student Ambassadors at all levels of education to help her through her academic path.

Further on in their career journey is Evan Rees, who graduated from Swansea University in 2020, and is now an engineering process and compliance manager for Accord Healthcare.

“One of the big things for me when I started my degree was that I wanted to get industry experience and go through the process of becoming Chartered,” he told the audience.

Alongside his undergraduate studies, Rees pursued a Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering at Swansea University, which gave him the opportunity to spend a year working with Tata Steel in Port Talbot. After completing his degree, Tata offered him a graduate role, where he transitioned from collaborating with material scientists to joining the energy department, contributing to research on electrifying steelmaking. Rees later moved to the pharmaceutical sector, driven by a desire to gain experience in other clean, sustainability-focused industries. He achieved Chartership through IChemE last year and left students with a clear message: take ownership of your career and embrace responsibility from the outset.