The 2018 Institute and Board of Directors' Awards were presented at the Honors Ceremony at the Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA. These are AIChE's most prestigious awards, honoring eminent chemical engineers for career accomplishments, service to society, and service to the Institute. Current AIChE President Christine Seymour presented the Board of Directors' Awards. She noted that, throughout this week, AIChE will also celebrate other distinguished contributors through its division, forum, and committee awards. See all awards presented at the Annual Meeting.
Founders Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Chemical Engineering
The Founders Award is presented to engineers who have had a profound impact on the way chemical engineering is practiced, and whose achievements have advanced the profession in any of its aspects. This year's Founders Award recipient is Julio M. Ottino, the dean of the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Northwestern University.
Julio M. Ottino (right) with 2018 AIChE President Christine Seymour
"For pioneering work establishing the mathematical foundations of fluid mixing, granular flows, and complex systems, and for thought leadership and creative vision in chemical engineering."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Julio Ottino.
F.J. & Dorothy Van Antwerpen Award for Service to the Institute
This award, sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company, was presented to Eduardo D. Glandt, Past Chair of the AIChE Foundation, an AIChE Fellow and the retired Nemirovsky Family Dean Emeritus in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania.
Eduardo Glandt (center) with 2018 AIChE President Christine Seymour and Dow's Dan Hickman
“For advancing the good works of the chemical engineering profession and for strengthening the future of AIChE through exemplary leadership of the Institute’s philanthropic activities.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Eduardo Glandt.
Before moving on to the Institute Awards, Seymour recognized this year's Institute lecturer. For 70 years, the Executive Board of the Program Committee has invited an AIChE member to present a comprehensive overview of chemical engineering in his or her area of specialization. This high honor was recently endowed, through generous donations to the AIChE Foundation, in the name of John Prausnitz of the University of California, Berkeley. The 2018 John M. Prausnitz AIChE Institute Lecture will be presented by Dr. Klavs Jensen, the Warren K. Lewis Professor of Chemical Engineering and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT. Jensen will deliver his lecture entitled “Accelerating Development and Intensification of Chemical Processes,” on Wednesday, October 31, at 11:15 AM, in the Convention Center’s Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom A.
Seymour then introduced the Chair of AIChE's Awards Selection Subcommittee, Juan de Pablo of The University of Chicago, to present this year's Institute Awards.
After thanking the Awards Committee and Awards Solicitation Committee, de Pablo presented the Institute Awards.
Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau Pioneer Award
The Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement by a Woman Chemical Engineer is given to a woman member of AIChE who has made significant contributions to chemical engineering research or practice over the course of her career, and who has paved the way for women to have a greater impact on the profession.
The award honors the memory of Dr. Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau, who was the first woman to earn a PhD in chemical engineering from MIT, the first woman member of AIChE, and the first woman to receive AIChE’s Founders Award. Rousseau is known for her work at Pfizer, where she scaled up and designed the first deep-tank penicillin fermentation commercial plant, leading to mass production of the drug that has saved countless lives since World War II.
The award is sponsored by Pfizer. The 2018 Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau Pioneer Award recipient was Elsa Reichmanis, Professor and Pete Silas Chair in Chemical Engineering at The Georgia Institute of Technology.
Elsa Reichmanis (center) with Juan de Pablo (left, Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee), and Pfizer's Mary am Ende
"For contributions to the design and development of robust polymer processes for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices, leadership, and service to the engineering community."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Elsa Reichmanis.
The Allan P. Colburn Award for Excellence in Publications by a Young Member of the Institute
Sponsored by DuPont, The Allan P. Colburn Award is the second-oldest award of AIChE and was established in 1945. It is given to encourage excellence in publications by a younger member of the Institute. This year's award went to Hal S. Alper, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
Hal S. Alper (center) with Juan de Pablo (left) and DuPont's Duncan Coffey
“For pioneering new approaches that merge and advance the areas of synthetic biology, protein engineering, and metabolic engineering to achieve novel phenotypes including chemical overproduction.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Hal S. Alper.
Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research
Sponsored by the Alpha Chi Sigma Educational Foundation and the Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity, the award was established in 1966. This year's recipient is Eric S. G. Shaqfeh, the Lester Levi Carter Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University.
Eric S. G. Shaqfeh (center) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo (left) and Alpha Chi Sigma's Jonathan Wenzel
“For groundbreaking work on vesicle and blood cell dynamics, and on suspensions of particles in viscoelastic fluids.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Eric S. G. Shaqfeh.
The R. H. Wilhelm Award in Chemical Reaction Engineering
Sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company, this award recognizes significant new contributions to chemical reaction engineering. This year's recipient is Linda J. Broadbelt, the Sarah Rebecca Roland Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University.
Linda J. Broadbelt (center) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo (left) and ExxonMobil's Douglas Kushnerick
“For distinguished contributions to the field of complex kinetic modeling — particularly for the development of automated mechanism generation and mechanistic models applied to hydrocarbon conversions.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Linda J. Broadbelt.
The Lawrence B. Evans Award in Chemical Engineering Practice
This award recognizes outstanding chemical engineering contributions in the industrial practice of the profession, through manufacturing, research and development, management, or business leadership practices. The award is endowed by the AIChE Foundation with support from CACHE Corporation. This year’s award recipient is Ronald R. Chance, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Algenol Biotech LLC.
Ronald R. Chance (center) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo (left) and RPI's B. Wayne Bequette
“For lifetime achievements in chemical engineering research, management, and process development in chemical, photochemical, and renewable energy innovations, including business development.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Ronald R. Chance.
The Industrial Progress Award
The Industrial Progress Award recognizes significant contributions to industrial practice by an individual working in industries served by chemical engineers. The selection of this early-career award is based on the impact of the contributions, the magnitude of the challenges involved, and innovation and creativity.
This year’s Industrial Progress Award is presented to Michael D. Determan, Senior Technical Manager at 3M’s Corporate Research Materials Lab.
Michael D. Determan (right) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo
“For accomplishments in the invention, development, and commercialization of next-generation pressure sensitive adhesives with numerous industrial, electronic, and health care applications.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Michael D. Determan.
The Industry Leadership Award
The Industry Leadership Award is presented to individuals or teams working in industries served by chemical engineers, and recognizes accomplishments in management; sales and marketing; public, community, and industrial relations; and public service. This year's recipient is Jean W. Tom, Head of Development Engineering at Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Jean W. Tom (right) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo
“For more than three decades of transforming engineering science within the pharmaceutical industry via application of innovative approaches and development of industrial-focused chemical engineers.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Jean W. Tom.
Industrial Research and Development Award
The Industrial Research and Development Award recognizes individuals or teams working in the industries served by chemical engineers, for innovation that has resulted in the commercial development of new products and/or new processes for making useful products. This year's award recipient is Kristin Thunhorst, Staff Scientist in the Industrial Business Development and Research Group at 3M Center.
Kristin Thunhorst (right) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo
“For excellence in research in materials, product and process development, and subsequent commercialization of new products and product enhancements in optics, energy, materials, and aerospace applications.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Kristin Thunhorst.
The Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology
Sponsored by Praxair, this award was established in 1993 and recognizes sustained excellence in contributing to the advancement of technology in the production, distribution, and application of industrial gases. This year's recipient is David Sholl, the John F. Brock III School Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
David Sholl (center) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo (left) and Praxair's Lawrence Bool
“For advancing gas separations and storage by creative use of computational modeling — bridging fundamental materials discovery and practical applications.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about David Sholl.
Andreas Acrivos Award for Professional Progress in Chemical Engineering
This award is endowed by the AIChE Foundation and recognizes outstanding progress in chemical engineering by an AIChE member. This year’s honoree is Martin Z. Bazant, the E. G. Roos (1944) Professor of Chemical Engineering and Mathematics and Executive Officer of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Martin Z Bazant (center) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo (left) and Shariq Yosufzai, Chair of the AIChE Foundation
“For pioneering contributions to fluid mechanics, electrokinetics, and electrochemical systems, including theories for induced-charge electro-osmosis, “shock electrodialysis” water desalination, and charging in Li-based batteries.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Martin Z. Bazant.
The Award for Service to Society
The Award for Service to Society recognizes outstanding contributions by a chemical engineer to community service and to the solution of socially oriented problems. The awardee’s contributions emphasize a concern for the common good, willingness to give time and comfort, and the ability to draw together varied resources to solve problems.
The 2018 award is presented to Daniel J. Lacks, an AIChE Fellow and the C. Benson Branch Professor and Chair in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
Daniel J. Lacks (right) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo
“For service to society through leading professional development activities for engineering faculty and other professionals from countries that have been experiencing conflict and/or limited infrastructure.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Daniel J. Lacks.
The Warren K. Lewis Award
Sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company, this award recognizes contributions to chemical engineering education. This year's winner is Babatunde A. Ogunnaike, an AIChE Fellow, the William L. Friend Chaired Professor of Chemical Engineering, and Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Delaware.
Babatunde A. Ogunnaike (center) with Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee Juan de Pablo (left) and ExxonMobil's Douglas Kushnerick
“For exemplary dedication to and leadership of the educational mission, provided through outstanding instruction and mentorship and through textbooks combining creativity, clarity, and rigor.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Babatunde A. Ogunnaike.
The William H. Walker Award
Sponsored by John Wiley & Sons, this award recognizes excellence in contributions to chemical engineering literature. This year the Walker Award winner is Enrique Iglesia, the Theodore Vermeulen Chair in Chemical Engineering at the University of California at Berkeley, and a Faculty Senior Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Enrique Iglesia (center) with Wiley's Bob Esposito (left) and Juan de Pablo, Chair of Awards Selection Subcommittee
“For fundamental unifying contributions to the catalysis literature, including quantitative understanding of the role of entropy in confined spaces and reaction pathways on crowded surfaces.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Enrique Iglesia.
Juan de Pablo brought the ceremony to a close with congratulations to the recipients and encouragment for new nominations for next year. Feel free to congratulate our recipients in the comments section below or on Twitter using #AIChEAnnual.
See a list of all awards presented at the 2018 AIChE Annual Meeting here.