CHE1010 Grand challenges in chemical engineering: Delivering sustainable food, water and energy
Faculty of Engineering
CHE1010 Grand challenges in chemical engineering: Delivering sustainable food, water and energy is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 5 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before CHE1010
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After CHE1010
No unit lists CHE1010 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
PREREQUISITES:
Australian VCE Mathematical methods (Units 3 & 4) or VCE Specialist mathematics (Units 3 & 4) or equivalent.
CO-REQUISITE:
You must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or an engineering double degree or with permission from the Faculty of Engineering.
Overview
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.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Weekly quizzesQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle10%
- Laboratory report 1WrittenThreshold hurdle10%
- Laboratory report 2WrittenThreshold hurdle10%
- Laboratory report 3WrittenThreshold hurdle10%
- Group case studyProjectThreshold hurdle20%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
describe key chemical engineering principles, such as heat and material transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, (bio)chemical reactions engineering and process design/control
- 2
identify unit operations within chemical engineering processes and select suitable equipment for an operation
- 3
investigate physical and chemical states of matter and delivery systems within industrial and practical lab settings
- 4
apply creative problem-solving approaches using chemical engineering principles to contemporary examples
- 5
engage and learn in both independent and collaborative ways with others to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives
- 6
demonstrate effective communication within a range of settings, including oral presentations and written reports.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops15 hours
- Practical activities12 hours
- Laboratories9 hours
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-8 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
Teaching and learning methods
This unit consists of recorded lecture videos, additional video and reading materials, workshop classes, debates, group presentations, site visits, interviews with industry-based engineers and three laboratory experimentals. Learning in the unit is mainly through the active and collaborative learning activities during the workshops, laboratory sessions and reports. Before the start of each week, students are expected to watch recorded lecture videos and associated material to understand the theoretical basis of the topic, complete their recommended readings and take an online quiz. Learning activities, including debates and workshops, are designed to encourage group work, problem-solving, critical thinking and sharing ideas. There is a group project to provide opportunities for teamwork and this is assessed through submission of written materials and oral presentations.
Learning resources
Required resources
Students are required to bring their own safety glasses and laboratory coats to laboratory classes
Technology resources
Moodle access
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Marzieh Namdari
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Marzieh Namdari
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for CHE1010?
CHE1010 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is CHE1010 offered?
In 2026, CHE1010 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is CHE1010?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does CHE1010 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 5 other tasks.