I have shared how various products rely on the talents of chemical engineering. Coffee (a course being taught at Berkeley made this clear), winemaking, soda pop, etc. all demonstrate the need for great chemical engineering talents to maximize the value of these products.
Continue reading A ChemE explains Bourbon
You know that despite all my additional training and education, I consider myself first and foremost a chemical engineer. Whether I am working in the medical profession, pharmaceuticals, water, finance, management, or tax- my approach is always to follow the rules of chemical engineering. Input-Output-Accumulation+Generation. (As you can surmise, that rule can equally apply to economics, biological systems, water treatment- even human interactions.)
Continue reading A retail ChemE
I miss my lab.
For years, I had a 10,000 square foot facility just for my own studies. Sure, there were other labs at my disposal, but this one was mine. To do with what I wanted. (OK. My clients would often want me to use the lab for their benefit, but it was still mine and for my ideas.)
Continue reading Are you coming to my Shabat table tonight?
Back when I was in college, there was a truism. Engineering programs were designed to make everyone fit in a square box- the original “we will make you equal” employer concept. Thankfully, that was true for all the disciplines except mine- Chemical Engineering.
Continue reading MIT. PhD. M-o-n-e-y
Do you remember the controversy a few years ago when certain individuals tried to claim that it was their brilliance that made their companies great? “You didn’t build that” was the catch phrase. Because most of us know that to be successful, we need viable infrastructure (which means government investment) and dedicated employees- under the guidance of competent (hopefully- even inspired) management.
Continue reading Superb Management – a combination of training, acumen, and timing.
I have run into this problem since grad school. What’s the plural of virus? Is it viri? Virus? Viruses?
Continue reading The age of phage?
Most of you know that I am a ChemE. (I am lots of other things, but I have wanted to be a ChemE since I’ve been a tyke and I approach almost everything I do using the mindset of this discipline.)
Continue reading Bet you never thought you knew some ChemE!
Last week, we discussed how companies are complaining they can’t find qualified employees. When, it’s more like they can’t find qualified employees at the decreased pay scale they offer. But, that’s not true for everyone of those big companies.
Continue reading Don’t just stand there- DO SOMETHING!
I do not consider myself an expert on K-12 education, but I have opinions. (You can find some of my thoughts on Stuart Nager’s blog.) But, I do understand undergraduate and graduate education. And, over the past 30 years, I have seen changes that scare the bejesus out of me.
Continue reading 144 to 120? Really?
Drs. Gleason and Bulovic (ChemE and EE departments of MIT), along with 7 other researchers (ChemE, EE, and Materials Science of MIT) have made a tremendous breakthrough in solar “panels”. Why is “panels” in quotes? These panels can be “printed” on copy paper, tracing paper, tissue, and newsprint. They can even be folded into different shapes. (These results were published in Advanced Materials.)
Continue reading Solar Panels on Paper- really! And, more!
