The 2015 Institute and Board of Directors' Award winners were given at the Honors Ceremony at the Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. These are AIChE's most prestigious awards, honoring eminent chemical engineers for career accomplishments, service to society, and service to the Institute. Current President Cheryl Teich presented the Board of Director Awards. See all awards presented at the Annual Meeting.
Founders Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Chemical Engineering
The Founders Award is presented to engineers who have had a profound impact on the way that chemical engineering is practiced, and whose achievements have advanced the profession in any of its aspects. This year's Founders Award recipient is Carol Hall, an AIChE Fellow and the Camille Dreyfus Distinguished University Professor at North Carolina State University.
“For distinguished contributions to chemical engineering research on polymer and protein solutions, leadership in service, and her pre-eminent role in mentoring women engineers.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Carol Hall.
F.J. & Dorothy Van Antwerpen Award for Service to the Institute
This award, sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company, is presented to Dr. Jennifer Sinclair Curtis, an AIChE Fellow and the newly appointed Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of California, Davis.
“For exemplary and extensive service to many facets of the Institute — including meetings, the Board of Directors, AIChE divisions, and the AIChE Journal.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Sinclair Curtis.
Before moving on to the Institute Awards, Cheryl Teich recognized this year's Institute Lecturer, Liang-Shih Fan, Distinguished University Professor and the C. J. Easton Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Ohio State University. Dr. Fan will deliver his Institute Lecture entitled, “Metal Oxide Reaction Engineering and Particle Technology Science: A Gateway to Novel Energy Conversion Systems,” on Wednesday at 11:15 AM, in Ballroom A/C of the Convention Center. He will be honored formally at the end of his lecture. Cheryl then introduced and thanked the Chair of AIChE's Awards Selection Subcommittee, Kristi Anseth of The University of Colorado, Boulder, to present this year's Institute Awards.
After thanking the Awards Committee and Awards Solicitation Committee, Kristi proceeded to present the Institute Awards.
The Allan P. Colburn Award for Excellence in Publications by a Young Member of the Institute
Sponsored by DuPont, The Allan P. Colburn Award is the second oldest award of AIChE and was established in 1945. It is given to encourage excellence in publications by a younger member of the Institute. This year's and the 81st recipient of the award is Dr. Bradley Olsen, the Paul M. Cook Associate Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
"For transformative advances in the design, synthesis, engineering, and characterization of new protein-based materials and protein-polymer hybrids for technology and human health."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Bradley Olsen.
Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research
Sponsored by the Alpha Chi Sigma Educational Foundation and established in 1966, this award is presented to Dr. James A. Dumesic, Vilas Research Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
"For conceiving and demonstrating elegant and yet practical reaction paths and chemical processes for the efficient conversion of biomass to a variety of chemicals."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Dumesic.
The R. H. Wilhelm Award in Chemical Reaction Engineering
Sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company, this award recognizes significant new contributions to chemical reaction engineering. This year's recipient recipient is Dr. Harold Kung, an AIChE Fellow and The Walter P. Murphy Professor at Northwestern University.
"For his contributions to the fundamental understanding of heterogeneous catalytic reactions, and his creative applications of reaction engineering principles to the invention of materials and processes."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Kung.
The Energy and Sustainability Award
One of AIChE's newest awards, The Energy and Sustainability Award recognizes individuals, teams, or entire companies for accomplishments in energy savings, improved sustainability of chemical processes, or development of innovative technologies for efficient energy generation. It is sponsored by Air Products & Chemicals. This year's award recipient is Dr. Urmila Diwekar, an AIChE Fellow and President of Vishwamitra Research Institute in Crystal Lakes, Illinois.
"For leadership in research related to conventional energy, renewable energy, the energy-water nexus, carbon capture, environmental control for energy, pollution prevention, and sustainability."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Diwekar.
The Industry Leadership Award
The Industry Leadership Award is presented to individuals or teams working in industries served by chemical engineers, and recognizes accomplishments in management; sales and marketing; public, community, and industrial relations; and public service. This year's recipient is Mr. Mike Resetarits, an independent consultant in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
"For exceptional industry leadership in various positions over 40 years, as a globally recognized expert in separation technology and as a mentor for many engineers."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Mr. Resetarits.
Industrial Research and Development Award
The Industrial Research and Development Award recognizes individuals or teams working in the industries served by chemical engineers, for innovation that has resulted in the commercial development of new products and/or new processes for making useful products. This year's award recipient is Dr. John Klier, Global R&D Director for Performance Materials and Chemicals at The Dow Chemical Company.
"For seminal contributions to breakthrough technology platforms for novel coatings, polymer dispersions, and low volatile organic compounds technologies.”
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Klier.
The Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology
Sponsored by Praxair, this award was established in 1993 and recognizes sustained excellence in contributing to the advancement of technology in the production, distribution, and application of industrial gases. The 22nd recipient of this award is Dr. Richard Baker, Principal Scientist at Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., in Newark, California.
"In recognition of lifetime commitment, sustained excellence and extraordinary achievements in bringing membrane science and technology to commercial reality in industrial gas separation applications."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Baker.
The Lawrence B. Evans Award in Chemical Engineering Practice
Sponsored by CACHE Corporation, this award recognizes outstanding chemical engineering contributions in the industrial practice of the profession. This year's recipient is Mr. Karl Jacob, a Fellow of AIChE, and Fellow at The Dow Chemical Company.
"For outstanding career-long contributions to solids processing technology — through excellence in industrial R&D, commercial implementation, leadership of the profession, and the education of future engineers."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Karl Jacob.
Andreas Acrivos Award for Professional Progress in Chemical Engineering
This award recognizes outstanding progress in chemical engineering by an AIChE member under the age of 45. This year's award is presented to Dr. Samir Mitragotri, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
"For fundamental research, technological innovation, and translational leadership in novel drug delivery systems."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Mitragotri.
The Warren K. Lewis Award
Sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company, this award recognizes contributions to chemical engineering education. This year's winner is Dr. John L. Falconer, an AIChE Fellow and the Mel and Virginia Clark Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Colorado.
"For outstanding contributions of a transformative nature in engineering education."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Falconer.
The William H. Walker Award
Sponsored by John Wiley & Sons, this award recognizes excellence in contributions to chemical engineering literature. This year the Walker Award winner is Dr. Lorenz T. Biegler, an AIChE Fellow, and the Bayer University Professor and Head of the Chemical Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University.
"For pioneering work in optimization of process systems, and its great impact in theory, algorithms, software, and in chemical engineering applications, including large-scale industrial problems."
Learn more about this award. Learn more about Dr. Lorenz T. Biegler. The awards ceremony ended with Kristi Anseth congratulating the recipients and encouraging nominations for next year.