December 2015 marked a landmark international agreement to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to limit the rise in global temperatures to less than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures. This agreement, made at the 21st Conference of the Parties to…
Water is both a life-giving source and a potentially devastating force. Citing this range of water’s power during the opening session of Weftec (New Orleans; September 24–28; www.weftec.org), New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu described how the city has triumphed over…
Language evolves. As the needs of the users change, language adapts to meet those needs. One way to adapt is to add new words. “Selfie,” for example, now a well-known word, has only been in popular use for a few…
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…
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,…
In the chemical process industries (CPI), dust can present an issue far more menacing than a housekeeping nuisance. Combustible dust is in fact, much too often listed as a cause of serious, and even fatal accidents. Incidents In January…
Good role models can greatly influence the path of a person’s career. While role models don’t always receive awards, recent announcements of award recipients describe a number of professionals in chemistry and chemical engineering who have been singled out for…
Technology continues to change at a rapid pace — particularly when we look at recent advances to our personal computers and mobile devices. As such, we at Chemical Engineering have been working on improving our online presence by taking advantage…