Chemical engineers are uniquely equipped to take on today’s most critical environmental issues—from improving air and water quality to tackling plastic waste and emerging contaminants. AIChE's Environmental Division brings together a passionate community focused on using sustainable chemical engineering to protect our planet and promote lasting solutions.
To learn more about the Division’s work, we spoke with Dr. Kirti Maheshkumar Yenkie, Associate Professor at Rowan University and Chair of AIChE’s Environmental Division. She shared how the Division is helping chemical engineers grow their impact, build community, and shape a more sustainable future—and how you can get involved.
How are chemical engineers leading the way in addressing today’s most pressing environmental challenges?
Chemical Engineers are working in multiple areas to tackle the environmental challenges of today which include sustainable plastics processing and recycling, water and wastewater management, air quality monitoring and emissions control, soil remediation, the food-energy-water nexus, and emerging contaminants such as PFAS. They are using classical chemical engineering principles and are also embracing emerging technologies such as digitalization and artificial intelligence to address these pressing environmental challenges.
What unique opportunities does the Environmental Division offer for professional growth and collaboration?
The AIChE Environmental Division has multiple environmental focus areas such as air, water, and soil quality, waste plastics, emerging contaminants, etc. and we organize technical sessions at the AIChE Annual Meeting and Spring meetings where there are opportunities for presenting as well as volunteering to serve as session chairs and co-chairs. We also have multiple annual Division awards, themed annual webinar program (2025 Theme: AI and Data-Driven Research for Advancing Safe and Sustainable Technologies), sessions at the AIChE Annual Student Conference focused on careers in environmental chemical engineering. We also regularly update our website and social media highlighting upcoming events and job openings, as well as networking opportunities at AIChE conferences and through monthly committee meetings. Our Division newsletter provides more in-depth information.
How can early-career engineers and students get involved and make a meaningful impact?
Early-career engineers and students are encouraged to volunteer for any of the Environmental Division’s activities—from helping with technical sessions to contributing to webinars or communications. You can also reach out to any member of the executive committee to learn more about available roles and how to get started.
We’re hosting an open virtual meeting on May 7 at 2:00 PM ET, where you can learn more about the Division and how to get involved.
If you have questions or want to connect directly, feel free to email us at: environmentaldivisionaiche@gmail.com.
Why is integrating environmental considerations into chemical engineering practices essential for sustainable development?
Chemical Engineers are uniquely skilled in detailed process analysis from the raw material procuring, product manufacturing, market distribution, use, discard, and recycling phases, as well as they can evaluate systems from lab scale to industrial scale. Thus, the integration of environmental considerations (carbon footprint, resource consumption, human health impact, etc.) within the process design and operational phase will allow for designing sustainable products and processes with their end-of-life in mind. This is crucial for the coexistence of the humans and planet sustainably.
Learn more about the Environmental Division
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