IChemE Matters – December 2025/January 2026

Reflections from 30 years of AIChE annual meetings

Raffaella Ocone, IChemE president

IN SEPTEMBER 1987, I started my PhD at Princeton University. Just a couple of months later, in November, I attended my very first annual meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) in New York City.

Since then, with only a brief interruption during the pandemic, the AIChE Annual Meeting has been a constant in my 28 years of professional life in chemical engineering. Each meeting has been a reminder of how dynamic and resilient our discipline is.

As I fly home from Boston after presenting my research at the 2025 AIChE annual meeting, I find myself reflecting on how profoundly our field has evolved.

The transformation is visible in the sheer breadth of sessions and topics covered. What once revolved mainly around core chemical engineering areas now spans a spectrum that includes biomanufacturing, advanced manufacturing, system biology, material science, sustainability and, of course, data science. The programme has become a mirror of the discipline’s expanding boundaries. From its earliest days, chemical engineering has been characterised by paradigm shifts. The first came with the concept of unit operations, which distinguished chemical engineering from pure chemistry and established process design and scaleup as the foundation of a new discipline: chemical engineering was born. Then came the transport phenomena revolution, which moved us from descriptive models to a fundamental, equation-based understanding of processes. We have since advanced through the eras of molecular and multiscale engineering, and today we find ourselves at the threshold of yet another transformation – one shaped by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data-driven design. These tools are reshaping how we approach our work, how we deal with challenges, how we innovate and, ultimately, how we define chemical engineering itself. What’s also emerging is a more human-centred dimension of engineering. Questions about inclusion, communication and the skills we equip our students with are more pressing than ever. Are we preparing them for what lies ahead? Each of us may have a different answer – but one truth remains: our profession has not been vocal enough in communicating its indispensable role and, importantly, the sheer variety of fields where chemical engineers work. Without chemical engineers, there would be no net zero transition, no sustainable energy future, no new medicines and no large-scale solutions to global challenges.

After almost three decades of attending AIChE meetings, I can confidently say that chemical engineering continues to evolve, staying as relevant and essential as ever. However, we need to be better communicators and need to be brave and blunt in embedding a transdisciplinary attitude in everything that we do.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised or have ideas you would like to share, you can contact me at president@icheme.org

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A year to remember

Duncan Lugton, head of policy and impact

THE END of the year is a natural time to pause and take stock, and in 2025 there’s certainly been a lot to reflect on. In the world of policy, the year’s big developments have included elections in Australia; a new Industrial Strategy in the UK (and a host of associated sector plans); and a shakeup of skills in England.

We’ve continued to raise the voice of chemical engineering and have fed into government policy on issues ranging from carbon capture utilisation and storage through to food security. We’ve kept up a busy schedule of roundtables on topics ranging from defossilising the chemicals industry to reskilling in engineering. We’ve expanded our policy events beyond London this year, with roundtables in Sheffield and Birmingham. And we’ve extended things beyond England too – with our first roundtables in Scotland and in Australia. We’ve also held our first policy events in partnership – with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and with the Royal Society of Edinburgh – and our first policy events at external conferences such as ChemEngDayUK and CHEMUK.
2025 has also seen us working more in collaboration with others. We’ve continued our strong links with the National Engineering Policy Centre, supporting work such as Engineers 2030 and on clean maritime fuels. We’ve teamed up with other voices in the chemicals sector – such as writing a joint letter with the Chemical Industries Association (CIA), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI), calling on the government to make a success of the Industrial Strategy. And we’ve published our first joint policy report, on the skills needed for the circular economy, with the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Across all these conversations, the recurring theme is the absolutely fundamental role of chemical engineering in delivering all the things politicians and policymakers want to achieve, from economic growth to new innovations to green energy. We’ve made real progress in getting this message across, and the chemicals sector’s foundational role is now recognised in both the UK Budget and the Industrial Strategy. We also hosted a well-attended event with the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee highlighting the importance of chemical engineering to the Industrial Strategy and we’ve already secured engagement from the Scottish government.

2026 will be an interesting year, with elections in Wales and Scotland, as well as local elections in England, all holding out the prospect of new political configurations and priorities. However, there’s one thing I’m sure about for 2026 - chemical engineering will be crucial to solving all the big problems, and will have a crucial role to play in the key policy questions of the day.

For more on our work: www.icheme.org/policy

UK & Ireland students invited to join Frank Morton 2026

FRANK MORTON will be hosted by the University of Nottingham on 16 February 2026.

This annual event brings together chemical engineering students from across the UK and Ireland for a day of networking, sports and social activities.

There has been interest from over 1,000 students, with more than 500 tickets already sold.

If you would like your university to participate in the largest chemical engineering student event of the year, speak to your chemical engineering society about tickets.

There are still 250 early bird tickets available at £23. The next 500 tickets are priced at £25, with subsequent tickets costing £27.

Ticket sales close on 6 January, with all tickets expected to be paid for by 2 February.

You can order tickets via the Frank Morton ticket form: bit.ly/frank-morton-2026-tickets

The organising committee is also keen to hear from companies interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the Frank Morton Careers Fair.

For more information regarding sponsorship packages and any enquiries, please contact frankmorton2026@gmail.com
Students can follow @frankmortonuk on Instagram to receive the latest updates regarding the event

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IChemE’s Oil, Gas and Energy Transition SIG tackles hydrogen and affordability in first meeting

LOW-CARBON power and how the UK can afford it were among the key topics discussed at IChemE’s Oil, Gas, and Energy Transition (OGET) special interest group’s (SIG) first-ever in-person meeting.

The SIG, active for a year, brought together industry experts to the UK Pathway to Net Zero event, hosted at engineering firm McDermott’s west London office. The session centred on how the UK can meet its net zero targets without placing unsustainable costs on energy customers.

“We have done some things well, but probably not enough,” said Michael Foley, a chemical engineer who has worked for ExxonMobil for 23 years. “Today we’re seeing a step backwards from some of the multilateral alignment we had around reducing emissions. We’ve also seen geopolitical fracturing and an increased focus on energy security and affordability, and that has probably slowed some of the pace of things down.”

Facilitated by Steve Flynn, the chair of the OGET SIG, the debate panel featured Foley, Claire Adjiman, professor of chemical engineering at Imperial College London, and David Simmonds, energy expert and author of TCE’s Engineering Net Zero series.

Electricity remains expensive in the UK, with households and industry paying some of the highest prices globally. Despite the challenges, the panel agreed that industry enthusiasm for low-carbon technologies is strong and outlined potential pathways to accelerate progress.

Systems-thinking approach

The panel examined the UK’s current energy mix, which still relies heavily on natural gas and discussed why renewables and electrification alone are unlikely to deliver a stable transition.

Simmonds noted that comparisons with Scandinavia are misleading: those countries already relied on electric heating, supported by well-insulated homes, long before their current low-carbon transition.

He said: “The utilisation factor of renewable energy is only about 40% in the UK currently, the wind is only blowing at certain times. Where you’ve got a gigawatt of capacity, the average output is only around 400 megawatts.

“This is having an impact on the way our grid operates today. And obviously we’re having to tie in the new supplies into the grid. And that is having an impact on the cost to consumers as well.”

Adjiman, a specialist in process systems engineering, emphasised the need for a holistic approach: “We need a systems engineering approach to develop a system which does not have a single solution, but actually a range of components that are complementing each other.”

She added: “That’s a great challenge for chemical engineers to take up, to think about what a hydrogen system can be, where battery storage can be used in times where electricity is not being generated.”

Customer cost and engagement

The panel stressed that consumers must remain central to the transition, noting that affordability and choice will determine public support.

Simmonds said: “We’re forcing technologies onto consumers and saying, you’ve got to have a heat pump, you’ve got to have an electric car, without necessarily thinking of the total system impact.”

He suggested hybrid heating systems as an example of a more flexible approach: “If the government was willing to give a grant for me to have a heat pump and still keep my gas boiler, which could eventually become a hydrogen boiler, I’d be able to stay warm on the coldest days.”

Beyond cost, the panel emphasised the need for clearer public communication on the energy transition. Adjiman highlighted the value of local engagement:

“If you get them involved in finding the solutions, understanding that their ideas are welcome, so that they can understand the impact of their decisions, that can enact change. But it needs all of us to go and reach out to small groups.”

The OGET SIG will host another in-person meeting in January in collaboration with IChemE’s London and South East Coast member group, with minister for industry Chris McDonald set to attend.

For updates on OGET SIG events, visit bit.ly/icheme-oget-sig

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INEOS and Rolls-Royce SMR win big at 2025 IChemE Global Awards

ENGINEERING giants INEOS and Rolls-Royce SMR were among the big winners at this year’s IChemE Global Awards.

The annual event was held in Manchester, UK and brought together some of the leading names in chemical engineering, including award sponsors ExxonMobil, Johnson Matthey and Shell. Competition was particularly strong across the energy-focused categories, with standout entries from PETRONAS, INEOS and Wood.

Introducing the event, IChemE president Raffaella Ocone acknowledged the high standard of those vying for awards. She said: “The breadth and diversity of the entries clearly demonstrate how chemical engineering touches so many areas of society.”

Energy wins

INEOS Electrochemical Solutions secured the Oil, Gas and Energy Transition Award, sponsored by Kent, for its development of “pioneering” alkaline electrolyser technology. Alkaline water electrolysis – which uses renewable, low-carbon energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen – is expected by INEOS to become the preferred method for large-scale green hydrogen production. The electrolyser also picked up the Outstanding Achievement in Chemical and Process Engineering Award.

“We are incredibly honoured to receive this recognition from IChemE,” said business manager Terry Healy. “Our Hydraeon electrolyser represents years of innovation and outstanding engineering. These awards are a testament to the talent, know-how and dedication of our team and a clear signal that INEOS plays a defining role in the energy transition.”

Diversity and nuclear

Rolls-Royce SMR won two categories – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Nuclear Technology – beating strong entries from bp and the University of Michigan. The firm was recognised for its extensive employee inclusion networks, supporting staff with disabilities, tackling gender bias and championing marginalised groups.

Its nuclear innovation award recognised its work on safety and accident management. Rolls-Royce SMR is a leading developer of small modular reactors and was recently selected through the UK’s Great British Nuclear SMR competition to supply the next generation of nuclear power stations.

Other winners included Sellafield, which took the Process Safety Award for its metallic nuclear fuel immobilisation work and bp and Veolia, who jointly won the Innovative Project Award for an anti-corrosion treatment for refineries.

Newcastle University and the University of Sheffield were among the academic winners, in the Research Project and Biopharma categories, respectively.

James Hendry from Newcastle University, said: “It means a great deal to win the Industry Project Award from IChemE – to have that recognition from other chemical engineers is fantastic.”

With more than 100 finalists across 16 categories, the programme featured an international lineup of winners and highly commended entries, including entries from the US, Germany, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia.

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You can see a full list of winners and highly commended entries at bit.ly/2025-icheme-global-awards

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Entries for next year’s awards will open in the new year. For more information, contact awards@icheme.org