Glassey sets out agenda after appointment as EFCE president

IChemE Fellow calls for closer industry-academia ties amid climate and AI challenges

INCOMING European Federation of Chemical Engineers (EFCE) president Jarka Glassey is calling for stronger collaboration between research and industry to maximise impact, as climate change and artificial intelligence take centre stage in sector-wide discussions.

Glassey, an IChemE Fellow based at the University of Newcastle in the UK, outlined the priorities of her forthcoming two-year presidency in an interview with TCE, saying the EFCE “needs to look at how we work with industry” to ensure discussion translates to action. She said: “It’s important that it’s not just an academic talk shop…but that there is societal impact and business impact [from] the innovations that we are discussing”.

Glassey will continue to prioritise sustainability and developments in artificial intelligence across the EFCE’s work, including looking at how chemical engineers can use AI responsibly. “We are in an unprecedented era. We have been there for a while now, but with AI it’s getting even more acute. Chemical engineers are now working in an environment that is really pushing us.”

The EFCE comprises member institutions such as IChemE and its counterparts across Europe, along with 19 additional organisations from around the world – including the US, China, India and Brazil. Each institution nominates two delegates to serve on the committees of EFCE’s 20 working parties, which focus on distinct areas of chemical engineering and operate similarly to IChemE’s special interest groups.