Adisa Azapagic awarded IChemE’s Davis Medal

ADISA AZAPAGIC, the world’s first professor of sustainable chemical engineering, has been awarded IChemE’s most prestigious medal for her exceptional service to chemical engineering.

Azapagic was awarded the Davis Medal ahead of her keynote lecture at the European Congress of Chemical Engineering in Germany on 18 September. Azapagic is an expert in sustainability, known for her research and public outreach on sustainability and carbon footprinting, for which she was awarded an MBE in 2020.

Azapagic said: “I am delighted that my work on sustainable chemical engineering has been recognised by this high accolade named after the founder of our discipline, George E Davis. This award is particularly dear to me as Davis held his first lectures in chemical engineering at Manchester. I am also thankful to my group, Sustainable Industrial Systems at the University of Manchester, and many academic and industrial collaborators who contributed to and supported my work over the years.”

She has published more than 200 journal papers, three books, led the development of the CCaLC2 carbon footprinting tool for industry, and has worked with industry to conduct lifecycle assessments and provided expert review of manufacturers’ efforts to meet international standards.

The medal was presented by IChemE past president David Bogle, who said: “I am proud to present Adisa with the Davis Medal on behalf of IChemE in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the profession and the enormously positive impact of her achievements. Sustainability and systems thinking are central to the modern discipline of chemical engineering, and her work exemplifies this instrumental approach.”

IChemE noted in its statement announcing the medal that through her many public engagements, Azapagic has acted as a role model, helping to inform consumers about what they can do for sustainability, as well as demonstrating how chemical engineers contribute to sustainable development, building a positive public perception of the discipline.

The Davis Medal is awarded to an eminent individual who has rendered exceptional service to chemical engineering. It is not given more frequently than every three years; the previous medal was awarded to Roland Clift in 2016.