CHEMENG 65Q: Chemical Engineering for Sustainability

Course Description

Do you want to make the world more sustainable? How will we address the tremendous challenges that climate change brings? How can we reduce carbon emissions and not have huge disruptions in society? This class is for anyone who wants to create sustainable alternatives to what we use every day: engineers, scientists, those in humanities and the arts. Everyone has a role to play in designing our future. We will learn how to make the world more sustainable by exploring the exciting new world of (chemical) engineering sustainability. We will discuss renewable diesel and jet fuels; synthetic meat; compostable plastics; building materials that save energy; direct capture of carbon from the air; biological pharmaceuticals; and advanced recycling operations. The class starts with a brief overview of the deep cuts in carbon emissions and other pollutants that will be needed. Then, we focus on how sustainable (chemical) engineering can provide a solution, visiting four companies who are changing the world. Students will leave the class with an appreciation of how sustainable (chemical) engineering can help address climate change's substantial challenges, and perhaps an internship with one of the companies we visit. High school chemistry (balancing a chemical equation) and high school physics (unit conversions) are recommended for this course.