It’s been said that a chemical engineer is someone who talks chemistry to mechanical engineers and mechanical engineering to chemists, but there is much more to the story than that. Chemical engineers take ideas/concepts (such as a new compound or a new reaction) to fruition (large scale industrial processes). Chemical engineering is at the forefront of the push for transitioning to the sustainable energy systems of the future, and plays important roles in renewable energy production, energy storage (batteries and fuel cells), negative emissions technologies (such as carbon capture) and environmental management.

While chemical engineering may seem complex, almost everything about it can be understood through the process of making coffee, because the elements of roasting and brewing coffee are small scale versions of chemical process systems. I will try to demystify chemical engineering through the example of coffee, and also make a case for the importance of chemical engineering in a sustainable future.

Vinay Prasad is the Chair of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta, and holds the Jaffer Professorship in Process Systems and Control Engineering. He has a PhD in chemical engineering with a specialization in process control and optimization, and has significant industrial and academic experience in chemical engineering. He conducts research on the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to process and manufacturing systems.

2022 Research Symposium - Part of the 2022 Energy Week, celebrating excellence in energy research across the UofA.

Featuring presentations from Future Energy Systems students and post-doctoral fellows, this event showcases research and provides unique interdisciplinary networking opportunities for all participants. This year's symposium will remain online highlighting work.

On Monday, 26 September at 13:00-15:00, five minute research talks will be followed by a question period and discussion.

In this 3-day virtual series: Aug 3-5, 2022 (1-4pm each day), high school students get to learn about the different areas of science and research, and explore careers in these sectors including doctors, scientists, clinical research coordinators, lab technicians and more. Students will get to participate in interactive and engaging activities each day and network with leading scientists and healthcare professionals from UHN. Everyone who attends all three days will get a certificate of completion for the program!