About Us

About the Baton Rouge Section

The Baton Rouge Section, Section 016, was organized in 1943.  Section meetings and other activities offer opportunities to stay abreast of subjects of interest to Chemical Engineers and to network with others in our profession.

Membership

All AIChE members in the Baton Rouge Metro Area are encouraged to become members of the Baton Rouge Section by paying $15 annually (select “Baton Rouge Local Section” when you pay your National AIChE dues). Members receive the newsletters and offer financial support of the Local Section. Members are encouraged to help guide the local section by attending meetings, serving on committees, and being officers. Candidates for Section Office must be both Local and National Members.

Monthly Meetings

Meetings cover subjects of current interest to Chemical Engineers and opportunities for fellowship and interaction with colleagues. Held in September through May, each meeting focuses on a special area. Dinner is served prior to the general meeting but dinner is not a prerequisite for the meeting.

Special Meetings

Special Meetings include October-LSU Seniors & Young Members; November-Election of Section officers, December-Annual Section Meeting/Holiday Dinner, February-joint meeting with Louisiana Engineering Society and other engineering societies, and April joint meeting with ACS to award the Charles E. Coates Memorial Award to an outstanding ACS or AIChE member.

Committees

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee assists with Coates Award and recognizes Fifty-Year Members at the Coates Award Ceremonies, recognizes service as Officers and Chairs, and submits members as candidates for national awards including the FELLOW grade. Nationally, about 10% of all eligible members may be elected to the honored title of FELLOW, one requirement is being a full member for 10 years.

Education Committee

The CGC helps young people make intelligent choices when considering Chemical Engineering as a career. SPECIAL SCIENCE FAIR AWARDS are administered (by CGC) for the Capital Area in March and for the State in April. The Student Chapter gives awards in the Junior Division and the Section gives awards in the Senior Division. All awards are a certificate and $50.

Membership Committee

is responsible for contacting new and prospective members and maintains membership database.

Newsletter Committee

is responsible for publishing the Newsletter before each meeting.

Nominations Committee

submits list of nominees for Office (September meeting), prepares ballot (October), and counts vote (at November meeting).

Professional Development Committee

assists Vice-Chair with programs, provides for area engineers to give technical papers locally, utilizes National Speakers Bureau and other sources to enhance professional development of local Section members. Our Section organizes Professional Development Seminars and Technical Symposiums.

Public Relations Committee

transmits local Section's activities to radio, television, and newspapers.

Lsu Student Chapter

is a part of the Section and students are encouraged to attend the Section meetings. Company sponsors and the Section pay for up to five Senior and higher level students to attend.

Awards

THE CHARLES E. COATES MEMORIAL AWARD is given each year to an eminent member of the Baton Rouge Sections of the American Chemical Society and/or AIChE, to honor the memory of Dr. Charles E. Coates. Dr. Coates was undoubtedly the most prominent figure in chemistry and chemical engineering in the state of Louisiana. He was head of the Chemistry Department at LSU from 1893 to 1937, and Dean of the Audubon Sugar School from 1908 to 1931. Instruction in chemical engineering at LSU started as sugar engineering in the Audubon Sugar School. The basis for the Coates Award is threefold: outstanding contributions to the professions of chemistry or chemical engineering, to society activities, and to the community. Each of these aspects is given equal weight in selecting the recipient of the award each year. The award was instituted in 1958 with Dr. Coates' son Jesse being the first recipient.

BEST DISSERTATION AWARD is given each year to a graduating LSU chemical engineering student for the best PhD dissertation. The $100-award is presented at the Coates Award Banquet.

HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND STATE SCIENCE FAIR AWARDS are administered by the local section for the best senior division projects which are relevant to chemical engineering. The student chapter administers similar awards to the best junior division projects.

THE GEPRGE LAPPIN SCHOLARSHIP

Code Of Ethics (1992 revision)

Members of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers shall uphold and advance the integrity, honor, and dignity of the engineering profession by: being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity their employers, their client, and the public; striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession, and using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare. To achieve these goals, members shall:

1.     Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties.

2.     Formally advise their employers or clients (and consider further disclosure, if warranted) if they perceive that a consequence of their duties will adversely affect the present or future health or safety of their colleagues or the public.

3.     Accept responsibility for their actions and recognize the contributions of others; seek critical review of their work and offer objective criticism of the work of others.

4.     Issue statements or present information only in an objective and truthful manner.

5.     Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and avoid conflicts of interest.

6.     Treat fairly all colleagues and co-workers, recognizing their unique contributions and capabilities.

7.     Perform professional services only in areas of their competence.

8.     Build their professional reputations on the merits of their services.

9.     Continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.