IChemE launches updated technical strategy

ICHEME has launched the third edition of its technical strategy document, Chemical Engineering Matters, at the Chemeca 2016 conference held this week in Adelaide, Australia.

Chemical Engineering Matters looks at the most important problems and challenges facing society and the environment and sets out how chemical engineers can best make an impact. It covers four key areas – water, energy, food and wellbeing and considers external factors such as politics, public influence and the economy.

The new edition was updated with input from IChemE’s 19 special interest groups (SIGs) and its regional groups, in order to get a global perspective.

The updated water vista urges more action to use waste, particularly sludge, to produce energy. The energy vista includes that efficiency is a priority, and that CCS will be vital to meeting climate targets. The third edition as a whole has more of an emphasis on resources and manufacturing, and the need for more efficient processes that use less energy, for raw material extraction.

“Chemical engineering remains central to the delivery of sustainable water, energy, food and wellbeing and the breadth of the chemical engineering discipline puts the profession in a unique position. Chemical engineers can and will play an important role in the design and realisation of solutions for the grand challenges we face. Chemical Engineering Matters is not about a programme of activities, it defines a mindset, a willingness to share, collaborate, and engage in the discussion,” says IChemE's technical vice president, Jon-Paul Sherlock.

Visit www.icheme.org/cem to download a free PDF of Chemical Engineering Matters.