Disciplines/science/engineering, implications

The new research frontiers in chemical engineering, some of which represent new applications for the discipline, have important implications for education. A continued emphasis is needed on basic principles that cut across many apphcations, but a new way of teaching those principles is also needed. Students must be exposed to both traditional and novel applications of chemical engineering. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) has set in motion a project to incorporate into undergraduate chemical engineering courses examples and problems from emerging applications of the discipline. The committee applauds this work, as well as recent AIChE moves to allow more flexibility for students in accredited departments to take science electives. 

In Implications for Institutions Nations and Businesses, we focused on the realities that drive nations and businesses to make collaborative innovation a top priority. In Implications for Disciplines Science and Engineering, we focus on what collaborative innovation means to science and engineering disciplines. Just as no nation or business is an island, no science or engineering discipline is an island. More specialization in the world creates both more disciplines and many more boundary zones that interconnect disciplines. In fact, linear growth in the number of disciplines creates exponentially more possible boundary zones, or points for collaboration between disciplines (Tables 18.1 and 18.2). 

Expert systems represent a branch of artificial intelligence that has received enormous publicity in the last two to three years. Many companies have been formed to produce computer software for what is predicted to be a substantial market. This paper describes what is meant by the term expert system and the kinds of problems that currently appear amenable to solution by such systems. The physical sciences and engineering disciplines are areas for application that are receiving considerable attention. The reasons for this and several examples of recent applications are discussed. The synergism of scientists and engineers with machines supporting expert systems has important implications for the conduct of chemical research in the future some of these implications are described. 

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