Catalysts 1023
News stories, events and media that link the work of chemical engineers to the culture at large. ...
Features
At Sea
ZAINAB, the protagonist of YM Abdel-Magied’s debut adult novel, is a formidable character – a fem...
So You’re Thinking of Writing a Book?
Myke King has written a book on process control, now in its second edition, and another on statis...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 45: Closure
Chapter 45 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 44: Bombe Glacée
Chapter 44 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 43: The List
Chapter 43 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 42: Unskilled
Chapter 42 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 41: Aladdin's Lamp
Chapter 41 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 40: Inquiry
Chapter 40 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 39: Recycle
Chapter 39 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 38: Tuatara
Chapter 38 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 37: NPK Granulation
Chapter 37 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 36: Empty Whisky Bottle with Hairy String
Chapter 36 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery se...
Fiona Erskine - Phosphate Rocks Chapters 30-35
Chapters 30-35 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling myster...
ChemEng Culture: From Hieroglyphics to Hydraulics
The latest art history exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, UK is a fascinating loo...
Fiona Erskine - Phosphate Rocks Chapters 27-29
Chapters 27-29 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling myster...
ChemEng Culture: Piper Alpha revisited
Director Laura Blount discusses the making of Disaster at Sea, the BBC documentary that retells t...
Ian Fells 1932-2025
Obituary of Ian Fells, a chemical engineer and 80s TV personality whose leadership on energy help...
Share Your Views on The Chemical Engineer for a Chance to Win £100 in Amazon Vouchers
We want to hear from you! Every year, we ask readers to tell us what they love, what they skip, a...
ChemEng Culture: Boeing, the 737 MAX Crisis and Aviation Safety
David Bogle reviews Andrew Hopkins’ book exploring how the pursuit of profit compromised safety p...
We asked 100 engineers – Issue 1012
Each month, members of the TCE reader feedback panel share their views on stories impacting the w...
Fiona Erskine - Phosphate Rocks Chapters 23-26
Chapters 23-26 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling myster...
Fiona Erskine - Phosphate Rocks Chapters 20-22
Chapters 20-22 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling myster...
Fiona Erskine - Phosphate Rocks Chapters 14-19
Chapters 14-19 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling myster...
ChemEng Culture: Sparks and Science
Can Fire and Fun Ignite a Love of STEM? A visit to the Magna Science Adventure Centre shows that ...
We asked 100 engineers - Issue 1011
Each month, members of the TCE reader feedback panel share their views on stories impacting the w...
Fiona Erskine - Phosphate Rocks Chapters 11-13
Chapters 11-13 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling myster...
Fiona Erskine - Phosphate Rocks Chapters 6-10
Chapters 6-10 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery...
ChemEng Culture: Connecting with Industry
Sam Baker reviews three short films that premiered at Sheffield DocFest in June, each documenting...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 5: A Ruptured Hose
Chapter 5 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery set...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 4: Sulphur
Chapter 4 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery set...
We asked 100 engineers– Issue 1008
Each month, members of the TCE reader feedback panel share their views on stories impacting the w...
ChemEng Culture – Issue 1008
Tim Marsh speaks to Sam Baker about his 30-year career in occupational health and safety and argu...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 3: Ebony Elephant
Chapter 3 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery set...
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 2: John
Chapter 2 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery set...
Editing the Bible
Adam Duckett speaks with Don Green, the retiring editor of Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook
Phosphate Rocks Chapter 1: Demolition
Chapter 1 in the serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling mystery set...
ChemEng Culture – Issue 1007
Sam Baker speaks to former process safety engineer Tony Cox, the expert witness portrayed in the ...
Phosphate Rocks References
References for the TCE serialisation of Fiona Erskine's novel Phosphate Rocks, a compelling myste...
Rewiring Britain: The Race to Go Green – A Power Struggle with No Clear Winner
David Simmonds reviews Panorama’s report on the UK government’s key projects aimed at achieving i...
Flixborough 50 Years On: Reader Feedback
To finish the series of articles we’ve published this year for the 40th anniversary of the Flixbo...
Glass In all its Glory: Part 2
Martin Pitt looks at the Industrial Age, which saw the mechanisation of glass manufacture, but al...
Flixborough 50 Years On: Addressing Process Safety Competence Challenges in Smaller Organisations
Fifty years on from Flixborough, Carolyn Nicholls says key challenges in process safety competenc...
Glass In all its Glory: Part 1
We look through it and maybe overlook it, but glass is a vital 200m t/y material for the world to...
Now That's What I Call Chemical Engineering Music
Paul Okey picks out 13 songs for TCE’s first-ever chemical engineering-related music playlist
Ethical Project Management in the Wake of Grenfell
IChemE past-president Nigel Hirst asks whether you really know your suppliers and what their true...
European Young Engineers – Networking, Knowledge and now, IChemE
Laura Grindey explains how European Young Engineers (EYE) is shaping engineering and fostering co...
Networking to Build Connections and Find a Job
Networking is a word that can strike fear into anyone. Vince Pizzoni aims to banish the dread and...
The Benefits of Neurodiversity Talent in Engineering
To mark World Autism Acceptance Month, James Cusack highlights the many benefits of neurodivergen...
Better Safe Than Sorry (Whatever Safe Is)
Trevor J Hughes on why reducing risk will only come from engineers challenging cringeworthy ‘ma...
Process Safety Leadership Site Visits
Performed well, leadership visits play a vital role in supporting a positive safety culture at a ...
Book Review: Empathic Entrepreneurial Engineering
David Fernandez Rivas; ISBN: 9783110746624 (paperback); De Gruyter; 29.50 (paperback, PDF, and eP...
Book Review: In the Shadow of Piper Alpha
Ian Maloney; ISBN: 9781913836160; Tippermuir Books; £5.00; 2022
Speaking Out, Staying Well
Jon Walton reflects on the changes in approach to mental health and wellbeing across the engineer...
Risks of Cyber-attacks are Closer Than They Appear
In the sixth article in his series, David Jamieson looks at what we can learn from the movie Ju...
Hans Up! Why we Should Channel our Inner Gruber During a HAZOP
In the fifth article in his series, David Jamieson looks at what we can learn from the movie Die ...
Readers of the Lost Safety Case
In the fourth article in his series, David Jamieson looks at what we can learn from Indiana Jones
Robust Management of Change. It’s about time
In the third article in his series, David Jamieson looks at what we can learn from the movie Back...
Safety Lessons from Home Alone
David Jamieson explains what Kevin McCallister and the Wet Bandits can teach us about inherent sa...
Book Review: Transcendence
Gaia Vince; ISBN: 9780241281116; Allen Lane; 2019; £20
Book Review: The Chemical Reaction
Fiona Erskine; ISBN: 9781786077578; Point Blank; an imprint of Oneworld; 2020, £14.99
A periodic exhibition: RSC celebrates 150 years of Mendeleev’s periodic table
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) opened a special exhibition, curated by the University of Ca...
Comics and Chemical Engineering
How story telling can help in preventing accidents.
The Chemical Detective
Amanda Doyle meets Fiona Erskine to discuss her explosive thriller
118 elements in 200,000 knots
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mendeleev’s periodic table, biochemistry graduate Jane Stew...
Scottish Government Encourages Plastics Production
On click-bait and the debate around fracking
Lessons in Safety
Effective communication a key theme as experts gather to discuss safety
Slide Rules at Dawn
IChemE members Sanjoy Sen and Mick Lee go head-to-head in a fight for survival on UK television
News
IChemE Matters – February 2026
Raffaella Ocone calls for chemical engineers to make their collective voice heard, Duncan Lugton'...
IChemE Matters – December 2025/January 2026
Raffaella Ocone reflects on 30 years of AIChE meetings, Duncan Lugton talks policy and IChemE 202...
Statue of engineer Alice Kan unveiled to celebrate National Engineering Day
THE FIRST statue of a living engineer has been unveiled in London to mark National Engineering Da...
A new gallery celebrating engineers opens at the Science Museum
AN exhibition called Engineers opened today at the Science Museum in London dedicated to world-ch...
Chemical engineers feature in second season of engineering safety programme
SIX chemical engineers have featured as experts in the second series of Disasters Engineered.
IChemE produces programme with ITN Productions Industry News
ICHEME has partnered with ITN Productions Industry News to produce a programme called Serving Soc...
London Science Museum opens carbon capture exhibition
THE Science Museum in London, UK, has launched an exhibition today showcasing carbon capture tech...
Periodic Videos on the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry win
YOUTUBE star and chemist Martyn Poliakoff has published a video looking at lithium-ion batteries,...
A periodic exhibition: RSC celebrates 150 years of Mendeleev’s periodic table
ON Tuesday the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) opened a special exhibition, curated by the Unive...
Science illustrated: Quentin Blake artwork opens at Science Museum
LAST night London’s Science Museum unveiled a series of drawings by renowned illustrator Quentin ...
University of Sheffield to host 2019 Frank Morton Sports Day
CHEMICAL engineering students at the University of Sheffield, UK have successfully won the bid to...
Nuclear energy and sustainability experts heading to Manchester
LEADING engineering experts in nuclear energy and sustainability will deliver keynote speeches at...
EPSRC funds Inclusion Matters initiative
THE EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) has announced that it is giving a ...
Piper Alpha Monopoly sparks backlash
THE release of an edition of Monopoly that marks the anniversary of the tragic Piper Alpha oil pl...
UK pay gap shows scale of male senior dominance
KEY employers of chemical engineers in the UK have published their gender pay gap information but...
