Many, if not most, of us have heard of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Simply stated, it refers to the manufacturing application of the Internet of Things, or the interconnectedness of “smart” machines. Similar to what we see with…
This past December marked the dedication of the largest seawater desalination plant in the U.S. The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, named for the former Carlsbad, Calif. mayor who was instrumental in choosing the location, is designed to provide…
Last month marked the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21). World leaders gathered in Paris, France with the goal of working out an international agreement aimed at minimizing global warming and…
Chemical engineers can put their skills to use in a very broad range of areas — from chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing to petroleum refining and to areas of biomedical work, such as development of artificial dialysis equipment and more. This…
I recall from the time that I worked as a research and development (R&D) engineer, the concept of a “rainmaker” — a talented researcher who was challenged to come up with new technologies that could eventually lead to new businesses.…
This August, two milestone actions were taken to set standards for emissions control in the U.S. On August 3, U.S. President Obama and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy released the final Clean Power Plan — the first-ever…
Honoring ‘green chemistry’ achievements The 2015 winners of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards have been announced. Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA; Washington, D.C.; www.epa.gov) recognizes innovative technologies that reduce hazards to humans and the environment and…
Five innovative technologies that were commercialized in the past two years have been selected as finalists for the 2015 Kirkpatrick Award for Chemical Engineering Achievement. The winner will be announced on November 18 at the Chem Show in the Jacob…
The explosion of electronic devices that surround us greatly influences the way we function, particularly in the area of communication — how we find entertainment, get information and make connections with others. Video screens seem to be everywhere: at work,…
On my way home from the office I have heard, on numerous occasions, fellow commuter-train riders lament about how their jobs are requiring them to do more and more with fewer people. It seems that this trend exists across the…