AIChE 100th Compressed

8/13/2019 AIChE 100th Compressed

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Celebrating 100 Years of the

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Tim Nolen

April 15, 2008


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What Do I Know About 100

Years?

I know about thelast 25 years of

AIChE!

It doesn't seemthat long ago


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Outline

Early Days and FoundingThe first 25 years.

Rapid growth and broadeningThe next 50 years.

Maturity, Change, and Challengethe last 25years.

Thoughts about the Future

Why Join AIChE Now?


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Outline





Why Join AIChE Now?


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Emergence of Chemical

Engineering

Manufacturing containing elements of chemicalengineering date back thousands of years.

But, unlike chemistry, mechanical or civilengineering, chemical engineering was notRECOGNIZED as a discipline until at least the

late 19thcentury.

Academic Courses called "chemical engineeringemerged


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A syllabus from theGlascow andWest of ScotlandTechnical College1888-1889.

1888"Course X" atM.I.T.Lewis Norton


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Other Disciplines Predated

Chemical Engineering

American Chemical Society (1876) membersgenerally thought that chemists could cover

manufacturingApplied chemistry

Industrial chemistry

Plus Mechanical Engineering (ASME, 1880) Plus Electrical Engineering (AIEE, 1884)

Plus Civil Engineering (ASCE, 1852)

Plus Mining / Metallurgical Eng. (AIME)

Already

recognized inthe 19thCentury


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Chemists were skeptical about

"Chemical Engineering"

"I am absolutely against the introduction of chemicalengineering in the education of chemists."

--Hugo Schweitzer, 1904 at ACS Meeting

Instead, he argued that industrial companies shouldhire pure chemists and train them in technical

aspects required for their plants.


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Richard K. MeadeA

Catalyst for AIChE

Formation

Founded Journal "The Chemical Engineer" 1905.

Organized "Committee of Six" to investigate founding achemical engineering societymet six times in 1907.

ACS leaders opposed Richard Meade and his committees

M.T. BogertACS President and A.C. Langmuir bothopposed having a separate chemical engineering group.

Bogert proposed ACS programs for chemical engineersplus a new Journal of Industrial Engineering Chemistry.


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The "Committee of Six" organized a

movement toward AIChE formation.

The year was 1907


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AIChE FoundingJune 22, 1908

Committee of Six Invited 100 prominent chemicalengineers to organizational meeting inPhiladelphia.

19 people attended and organized the AmericanInstitute of Chemical Engineers

Samuel Stadtler elected first President

John Olsen elected Secretary (held this office until1927)


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Two needs dominated the early

AIChE

1. Minimize conflict with ACS

ACS was formed in 1876, at 5000 members by

1908ACS immediately formed Division of Chemistryand Chemical Engineering to pre-empt AIChE

2. Define what "Chemical Engineering" meant.


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AIChE early membership

requirements kept it a small club..

so as to minimize conflict with ACS

Minimum age of 30

Proficient in chemistry AND relevant engineeringfield

Minimum five years relevant experience

College degree (or ten years experience)

These requirements precluded chemists andacademics.


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So the early AIChE was a special

club of few members.

"Recent Growth and Development of theInstitute," Frederic J. LeMaistre, in Chemical

Engineering in America, 1932, p. 33.

Frederic J. LeMaistre was ExecutiveSecretary, 1930

Secretary, 1931

Today, Eastman alone has>900 people with ChEdegrees.

Chemical Engineers in U.S.1905: 5001930: >10,000


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Union Dye and Chemical1918 pre-

dated Eastman

http://www.colorantshistory.org/UnionDyeChemical.html


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AIChE helped define "Chemical

Engineer"

"Unit Operations" as the basis of chemicalengineeringA.D. Little in letter to his AlmaMater, M.I.T. in 1915.

Little organized a review of 77 chemicalengineering programs, and produced a reportin 1922 that helped shape and change thechemical engineering curriculum forever:

"Chemical engineeringis not a composite of

chemistry and mechanical and civilengineering, but a science of itself, the basisof which is those unit operations which intheir proper sequence and coordinationconstitute a chemical process as conducted

on the industrial scale.


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Defining "Chemical Engineer"

Part II

Not only unit operations, but describingand designing each unit using kinetics,thermodynamics, and transport

phenomena.

1923: "Principles of Chemical

Engineering" text by William Walker, W.K. Lewis, and W. H. McAdams of M.I.T.


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Early Meetings/Publications

Spring and Summer Meetings each year fortechnical presentations.

Published "Transactions" of the meetings whichwere critical to early formation of chemicalengineering literature.


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AIChE shaped chemical

engineering training.

Starting in 1922, AIChE was the first engineering society toevaluate and endorse college curricula and programs

1932: AIChE joined other societies in forming Engineers

Council for Professional Development (now AccrediationBoard for Engineering and Technology, ABET).

18 Departments were accredited by 1931.

Today, there are 154 accredited ChE Departments in the

U.S. and AIChE continues to cooperate with ABET.


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AIChE Accomplishments by 1930

Helped define ChE field and curricula

Established accreditation program

Instituted Spring and Fall Technical Meetings Established "Transacations"

Established full-time executive secretary andheadquarters in Philadelphia (1930).


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"A Break with Elitism" finally

carried the day in 1930

A.D. Little, 1919 President, and Henry Howard,1922-3 Presidents, argued for broadermembership, to no avail.

"We should all agree that the Institute ought to betruly representative of American chemicalengineers." Howard, 1920.

It was not until 1930 that an amendment was able topass with the 75% required majority to allow formore extensive membership.


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Outline

Early Days and FoundingThe first 25years.

Rapid growth and broadeningThe next 50 years. Maturity, Change, and Challengethe last 25

years.


Why Join AIChE Now?


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ASME Challenge

By 1930, the American Society of MechanicalEngineers was proposing a "Process Division"which threatened to expand into the area occupied

by AIChE.

This, along with the rapid growth and unique

definition of "chemical engineer" spurred opiniontoward loosening AIChE membershiprequirements.


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Membership Requirements

Before 1928: proficient in chemistryand in some branchof engineeringas applied to chemical problems

1928 modification: "proficient in chemistryand the design,construction, or operation of a plant in which matterundergoes a change of state or composition"

1931: "proficient in chemical engineeringandexperienced in the design, construction, maintenance, oroperation of a plant"


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Broadening AIChE Membership

Requirements

1930proficiency in "chemical engineering"replaces "chemistry"

1943Industrial researchers and teachers allowedas active members

1950Automatic transfer of Junior members toAssociate members at age 35

1954Changed "Junior" to "Associate" and"Associate" to "Affiliate" and allowed Associatemembers full voting rights.


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Chemical Engineering During the

Depression YearsGrowth!

From 1929 to 1937:

Earnings of top 45 chemical companies increased28%.

35 of 45 chemical companies paid largerdividends.

Production in 1937 surpassed the 1929 record

high. Chemical workers in research grew from 3451 to

9467 (in 1938).


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Tennessee Eastman1938(Photo: Eastman Photographic Services)


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Tennessee Eastman Company1963(Photo: "Wings Over Kingsport")


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AIChE Membership Growth Followed

Industry Growth

"Scaling upThe Institution of Chemical Engineers and the Rise of a NewProfession, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2000.


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AIChE student chapters grew,

too.

1921, Student chapters were authorized. 1922, University of Michigan 1929, 15 chapters 1932, Student Problem Contest Instituted

1938, 64 chapters, 4375 members 1958, 108 chapters, 7035 members 2007, 161 chapters

"Student chapters provide opportunities for networking, mentoring, studentconferences, programming, career guidance, scholarships, awards,

competitions, information, news."

East Tennessee Section is one of the few without a student chapter.


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Local Sections have a history,

too.

Why have them?

Geographical coverage

Encourage closer professional/personal relationships

More opportunities for leadership

Provide programs with local relevance.History

AIChE Council passed rules establishing local sections in 1922.

Initially, local sections were limited to discussing "papers andinformal fellowship"

Rules were broadened in 1932 to allow freedom in programming Chicago Section formed in 1924.

Detroit Section formed in 1928.


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Local Sections exploded with

membership growth.

Growth of AIChE Local Sections

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

Year

Number

East Tennessee

w as the 14th LS,est. 1943.


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Our own National Presidents

Two National AIChE Presidents have come from theEast Tennessee Section:

John H. Sanders, 1984

Jeff Siirola, 2005
http://nt2hrit4/Employee/WebForms/OrgStructure_PC.aspx?report_type=Name_Picture&admin_func_flag=admin&u_start_insno=833767


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AIChE Sponsored Research Institutes

DIPPRDesign Institute for Physical PropertiesResearchfounded 1978 to fill industry need forbetter data as suggested by Bob Reid from M.I.T.

in 1975. Is the longest running AIChE-sponsoredresearch program.

CCPSCenter for Chemical Process Safety

formed in 1985 in response to Bhopal disaster.


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AIChE formed Technical Divisions

Purpose: Promote the exchange of technical information, and provide

opportunities for affiliation in disciplines and emerging fields.

Provide programming, awards, recognition.

Nuclear Engineering

Transport & Energy Processes--TEP

Food, Pharma, and Bio-Eng.-FP&BE

Fuels & Petrochemicals-F&P

Forest Products-FP

Materials Eng. & Sci.--MESD

Environmental-ENV

Computing and Systems Tech-CAST

Safety & Health--S&H

Management-MGT

Council of Division & Forum Officers

Separations--SEP

Catalysis and Reaction Eng.-CRE

Process Development--PD

Growth of AIChE Divisions

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Year

Num

ber


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AIChE grew into prestigious

national headquarters.

From 1937 to 1961, AIChE leased space in variousbuildings in New York City, expanding as needed.

In 1959, AIChE became one of the five "FounderSocieties" buying into the "United Engineering

Center" building across from the United Nations inNYC. The building was completed in 1961.

22 floors

283 ft tall

$10 million original construction cost of which$300K was paid by AIChE.

Architects: Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates(also designed Empire State Building).


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Outline





Why Join AIChE Now?


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SOURCES: Tabulated by National Science Foundation/Division of Science Resources Statistics (NSF/SRS); data from Department ofEducation/National Center for Education Statistics: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Completions Survey and NSF/SRS: Survey

of Earned Doctorates.

Change: No longer a Men's Club.


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And in East Tennessee, too.

East Tennessee Section Officers--% Women

-5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

1943-1979 1980s 1990s 2000s

B t AIChE' ti l th h


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But AIChE's exponential growth has

ended.

"Scaling upThe Institution of Chemical Engineers and the Rise of a NewProfession, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2000.


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Chemical Industry maturity is

changing AIChE


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Trouble in Maturity

AIChE had a financial crisis 1998-2003

Financial assets declined in value from+$20.9M to -$3.4M

Revenue decreased

Costs higher Response2003 Restructuring

Reducing staff

Outsourcing journals, continuing education

Assigning 3 Park Ave. lease Reducing other non-essential activities.

ResultAIChE net assets increased to +$3.5M by Dec. 31,2006. (Total Revenue: $16.6, Total expenses, 14.3 in

2006.)


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AIChE now at 3 Park Avenue

In 1997, the UEC was demolished to make way for the TrumpWorld Tower. AIChE moved to leased space at 3 Park Avenuein New York and pocketed $6.2 million from its share of the saleof the UEC building.


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Outline





Why Join AIChE Now?


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ButChemical Engineering has a

Future!

Maturity is not the end, but a call for productivityand innovation in traditional industries.

AIChE is addressing new challenges, e.g.

Society for Biological Engineering (2001)

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Forum (2003)

Institute for Sustainability (2004)

Demand for materials and energy will continue to grow.


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Industry Strategies and Trends

Chemicals

Molecule

Supplier

ProblemSolver

Commodities

FineChemicals

Functional

Chemicals

LifeSciences

Process technologyRaw material basisLogistics"Verbund"

Technical capabilitiesCustomer orientationR&D competence

Market understandingApplication technologies"Magic Ingredients"

R&D / patentsMarketing / Sales

U.S.E.U.

Mid.

EastAsia

U. H. Felcht, "The Future Shape of the Process Industries"

Chemical Engineering:


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Chemical Engineering:

A More Diverse Universe

29,000 people working as "Chemical Engineers" in2005 (BLS)

Compare to: 210,000 people received B.S. degreesin chemical engineering in the U.S. since 1970.Probably 160,000 are still in the workforce.

Chemical Engineering is a foundation for a broader set of careers than just

the process industry.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Graduation Ye ar

BS/MSGraduates

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

PhD

Graduates


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Some March Articles:"What are Chemical Engineers Doing about Energy?"Conference Explores Developing Bioeconomy"Biofuels in the News""How Might Biofuels Impact the Chemical Industry?""The Future of Coal-Based Power Generation"

"DOE Restructures FutureGen to Emphasize Carbon Capture""Harnessing Natural Energy""Electricity Storage: The Achilles' Heel of Renewable Energy"

AIChE and Chemical Engineers have a lot more work to do!


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Why Belong to AIChE Now?


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What AIChE Has Already Given You

Shaped and Defined Your Profession for 100 Years

Accreditation for your ChE Dept.founder of ABET

Center for Chemical Process Safety

Design Institute for Physical Properties

Publications / Meetings / Training

Divisions and Local Sections

Advocacy for Science and Technology


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Other AIChE Member Benefits

Access to the AIChE eLibrary powered byKnovelThe AIChE eLibrary delivers selections from themost relevant engineering and scientific references,handbooks and databases to your PC. You canthen manipulate and search for content across theentire collection. Members enjoy free access toselections from Knovel's Life Sciences andChemistry collections.

Technical publications and booksSave up to 10% on books and publications. And up

to 83% on magazines. Choose from eight journalsubscriptions and over 300 publication titles.Technical conferencesSave $200 on conferences, where youll learn fromindustry leaders and meet thousands of industrypeers. There are six AIChE sponsoredconferencesand over 30 specialty co-sponsoredconferences.

Career advancement and supportAll Membershave access to AIChEs exclusive career andemployment services, including CareerToolsPLUS!

for broad career support services at every careerstage, including job search support. Also sign ontoAIChEs premier Chemical Engineer resumedatabase, CareerEngineer, AIChE's exclusive jobsearch engine for chemical engineers. You cansearch by position, industry, city, state, country andcompany. If you're an employer, this is the bestresource to fill a position-whether full-time,consultant or internship.

12-month subscription to CEP (ChemicalEngineering Progress )

The AIChE Member DirectoryUse this online resource to locate and stay connectedwith friends, colleagues and peers worldwide.

Members-only insurance plansAIChE offers members portable insurance plans youcan take with you when you change jobs or careers.You'll receive competitive group rates and flexibleplans to fit your budget and your needs.

A diverse, far-reaching networkAs an AIChE member, you'll have many networking

opportunities to build and maintain professionalrelationships. Special financial products and services

Explore AIChE's family of of financial products andservices designed exclusively for AIChE members,including group insurance, small business andpersonal financial benefits.

UPS discountsAIChE members receive deep discountsup to 26%on UPS Express shipping, and 10% on businessservices at The UPS Store like copying, binding,

laminating, packaging and mailbox services. Car rental discounts

AIChE has made arrangements for members to save5 to 15% off regularrates every time they rent a carfrom Hertz or Avis.
http://www.aiche.org/apps/ecommerce/memberapps_new/memapp.asphttp://www.aiche.org/apps/ecommerce/memberapps_new/memapp.asphttp://www.aiche.org/apps/ecommerce/memberapps_new/memapp.asp


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Support Your Profession!

Your paycheckit's big!

Your future and those who follow depend on astrong AIChE

And:

A recent Monster.com survey of hiring managers and headhuntersrevealed that a whopping 79% see job applicants who are involved

with professional associations as higher quality candidates thanthose who arent.

as quoted by Annie Fisher, Fortune Magazine, Feb. 22, 2005.


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So, here's to the next 100 Years!

Thanks for celebrating with me today.

More celebrations!

November 16-21, 2008.

Also, see http://www.aiche.org/About/Centennial/Index.aspx
http://www.aiche.org/About/Centennial/Index.aspxhttp://www.aiche.org/About/Centennial/Index.aspx


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Join Your Chemical Engineering Profession

Join AIChE

www.aiche.org


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Railroads matured too but they are


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Railroads matured too, but they are

more important than ever today.

Railroad route length in the U.S.("The Transportation Experience: Policy, Planning, and Deployment. [William Louis Garrison, David M. Levinson],

Oxford University, 2005.


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Railroads (and chemicals)China is a

new driver "on the road."

The Economist, Feb. 14, 2008

AIChE 100th Compressed

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