Grand challenges in chemical engineering: Delivering sustainable food, water and energy

Providing food, water and energy to the world's people in an environmentally sustainable manner is an engineering grand challenge that must be solved in a concerted manner. New scientific discovery and engineering processes are urgently needed, and chemical engineering must provide key solutions in all three areas. This unit will explore the core concepts and applications of sustainable chemical engineering through interesting case studies drawn from food, water and energy engineering presented by a mix of academic specialists and industry representatives in each area.

The basic principles of the discipline will be introduced, including heat and material transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, (bio)chemical reactions engineering and process design/control. Chemical engineering concepts will be developed within workshops and practicals complemented with practical laboratory experience. There will also be an opportunity for activities where, within teams, you will design chemical engineering solutions to important issues or opportunities.

This unit is aimed at all engineering students and may be of special interest to those attracted to environmental engineering, biological engineering, civil engineering (water specialisation) and chemical engineering.