Chemical engineering education history

L.W. Shemilt, A Century of Chemical Engineering Education in Canada, in W.F. Furter (Ed.), History of Chemical Engineering, Advances in Chemistry Series no. 190, ACS, Washington, 1980. 

In recent years many faculty members of Departments of Chemical Engineering have presented detailed or often cursory "histories" of their Departments (see for example the 1968-1986 issues of Chemical Engineering Education). In these articles one finds a persistent effort of many of the authors to prove that their Schools have existed for more than 75 years, in one case since 1853 The truth is tliat even if an "industrial chemistry" course was taught at a university, this would not constitute acceptance of a chemical engineering curriculum. 

In the weaving process what strands to use of course will depend on a teacher s individual interests, the subject, the particular group of students, and the general cultural climate. On the other hand. Doc felt one strand so important that provision should be made always for at least one teacher of a technical subject to weave it into the professional education of a chemical engineer at some point in the enterprise. This strand is history. 

Before tracing the history of the development of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, it is useful to set the development of the University in the context of higher education within the United Kingdom and the development of the City. 

The past twenty years have been years of major educational and research achievements. Indeed, four Heads have guided the progress of the School during this period Robert A. Greenkom (1967-73), Lowell B. Koppel (1973-81), Ronald P. Andres (1981-87), and Gintaras V. "Rex" Reklaitis (1987-present). The reader will find many details about the names, education and achievements of individuals in the past twenty years in our more extensive History of the School of Chemical Engineering of Purdue University (28). 

JAMES DONNELLY studied chemistry at University College, London, He was awarded a PhD at the University of Leeds with a thesis on the historical relationship between education and the chemical industry. He taught chemistry for some years in schools, and is now Senior Lecturer in Chemical Education in the Centre for Studies in Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Leeds. He has published several articles on the history of industrial chemists and chemical engineers. He also works in the field of science education and is editor of the journal Studies in Science Education, His main historical interest at present is the history of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, jointly with Professor Colin Divall. Address Centre for Studies in Science and Mathematics Education, School of Education, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, Great Britain. 

I cite this history including these two recent examples of attempts to insert chemistry into the thicket of materials research already densely populated by physicists, ceramists, metallurgists, and chemical and civil engineers, because they form the background for my recommendations in the following sections. It is, of course, directly relevant to the initiative in education of the American Chemical Society. First let me list good reasons for such an initiative ... 

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