The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) will spotlight the contributions of chemical engineers and the companies that employ them at the 2024 AIChE Gala — scheduled for December 4 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.
Built around the theme “Inspiring the Power of Good,” this year’s gala will showcase the contributions of BASF Corporation, which is being recognized for operational excellence and for improving health, safety and environmental performance for a more-sustainable future. BASF Corporation will be represented at the gala by Michael Heinz, the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
AlChE will also recognize Celanese Corporation for advancing women in the workplace, development of the next generation of STEM leaders through the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI), and sustainability initiatives that have benefitted society. Lori Ryerkerk, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Celanese Corporation, will accept the gala honor.
Also at the Gala, AIChE will present its Doing a World of Good Medal to Gregory Stephanopoulos, the Willard Henry Dow Professor in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Stephanopoulos will be lauded for his leadership and his pioneering contributions in metabolic and biochemical engineering, which have resulted in more-sustainable manufacturing, improved innovation in alternative fuels, and increased understanding of metabolic engineering in industrial biotechnology.
In announcing the Gala’s theme and honorees, AIChE’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Darlene S. Schuster, noted “AIChE is pleased to recognize the significant contributions of this year’s Gala honorees to the chemical engineering profession. These individuals, and their organizations, represent some of the finest of our profession, and they play a vital role in advancing chemical engineering technologies and also strengthening the chemical engineering workforce.” Schuster added, “AIChE, along with the chemical engineering community looks forward to celebrating these exemplary leaders within our profession and their companies at our Gala in December.”
The Gala is organized by the AIChE Foundation. Funds raised will underwrite the expansion of AIChE’s Doing a World of Good priorities to strengthen the chemical engineering workforce in order to expand the profession’s positive impact on the world.
As of June 1, the 2024 Gala’s chairs include Michael Finelli, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and Chief North America Officer, Syensqo; Erin Kane, President and Chief Executive Officer, AdvanSix, Inc.; Jason McAlpine, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials North America, BASF; and John Y. Televantos, Senior Partner at Arsenal Capital Partners.
Learn more about the work of the AIChE Foundation at www.aiche.org/giving.
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About AIChE: AIChE is a professional society of more than 60,000 members in more than 110 countries. Its members work in corporations, universities and government using their knowledge of chemical processes to develop safe and useful products for the benefit of society. Through its varied programs, AIChE continues to be a focal point for information exchange on the frontier of chemical engineering research in such areas as nanotechnology, sustainability, hydrogen fuels, biological and environmental engineering, and chemical plant safety and security. More information about AIChE is available at www.aiche.org.