AIChE Foundation: The Power of Good

Dear Friends,

“The positive impact on the global landscape would not be possible without the generosity of the AIChE community.”

From countless products that improve our everyday lives to understanding the foundation of life itself, the contributions of chemical engineers can be felt throughout society. The positive impact on the global landscape would not be possible without the generosity of the AIChE community.

With much gratitude, we extend our appreciation for your contributions of time, talent, and treasure that stand as proof of our collective commitment to advancing our profession.

As we look back on the past year, we are proud to announce that our fundraising efforts secured more than $5.7MM. This brings our total campaign contributions to $54MM in support of vital programs across our five transformative priorities.

Thanks to the generous support of six new corporate partners and two individual donors, the Bee a ChemE initiative continues to gain momentum.

This year, we’re thrilled to welcome our fourth class of Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) scholars. To date, FOSSI has secured funding for 665 outstanding students.

We continue our commitment to inclusion and process safety excellence. Essential programs such as the Women in Chemical Engineering (WIC) Mentorship Award Program, LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Training, and the Undergraduate Process Safety Learning Initiative (UPSLI) faculty workshops and student bootcamps remain front and center.

Our support of innovation and research is highlighted through endowed awards, including the Langer Prize and the Stephanopoulos Award in Metabolic Engineering.

As you read the following pages, we hope you’ll be inspired by the progress we are making to shape our profession. That’s the power of good.

With warm regards,

Jennifer Sinclair Curtis

Chair, AIChE Foundation Board of Trustees;

Distinguished Engineer, UC Davis

Five Transformative Priorities

The Doing a World of Good campaign funds five priorities that are transforming the profession and the world around us.

Attracting and Retaining the Best and Brightest

FOSSI Scholars Reach New Heights

Thirteen Future of STEM Scholar Initiative (FOSSI) students experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in December, ringing the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Following a tour of the trading floor, scholars attended the 2023 AIChE Gala, along with FOSSI sponsors AdvanSix, BASF, Dow, and Lubrizol.

In September, FOSSI expanded its presence, hosting a lunch and networking session at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU). The event connected 37 FOSSI scholars with over 40 representatives from 22 sponsor companies and distinguished Prairie View faculty.

“My journey with FOSSI fuels my passion and opens doors to incredible possibilities,” said Carol Akpan, 2021 PVAMU FOSSI Scholar and chemical engineering major.

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▲ FOSSI Scholars ring the NYSE Closing Bell with Darlene Schuster, CEO of AIChE, and John Sampson, Senior Vice President, Operations, Manufacturing and Engineering at Dow (Photo courtesy NYSE).

Changing Perceptions

Bee a ChemE Fundraising Success Sparks STEM Excitement in Middle Schoolers

The Bee a ChemE campaign celebrated a major milestone in 2023, raising an impressive $675,000 to unlock the wonders of chemical engineering for middle school students across the nation. This support demonstrates a shared commitment to inspiring the next generation.

Bee a ChemE showcases the diverse and impactful careers available in chemical engineering. One core initiative is the K-12 STEM Ambassador Program. Launched in 2021 at The Ohio State University, this program trains AIChE undergraduate leaders in classroom teaching methods, empowering them to share their knowledge and enthusiasm.

The recent fundraising success will allow the program to reach even more middle schools, a critical time for sparking interest in STEM fields. Bee a ChemE also recently launched a new website at the AIChE Spring Meeting in New Orleans, offering valuable resources for students, teachers, parents, and educators.

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▲ A new microsite introduces middle schoolers to the wonders and possibilities of chemical engineering.

Education, Training, and Career Development

Graduate Students Shine in Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT^®)

For the second year, the AIChE Foundation, via the Doing a World of Good Grants Program, funded the 3MT competition at the 2023 AIChE Annual Meeting, giving graduate students an opportunity to present their thesis in just three minutes.

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▲ Three Minute Thesis Competition winners at the 2023 AIChE Annual Meeting.

The lively and fast-paced competition allows for the exchange of relevant knowledge between competitors and the audience, and helps graduate-level chemical engineers sharpen presentation skills, enhance research communication, and develop leadership skills.

Research and Innovation

Mattheos Koffas Named First Recipient of the June Wispelwey Bio Leadership Fellowship

AIChE’s Society for Biological Engineering (SBE) awarded its inaugural June Wispelwey Bio Leadership Fellowship to Dr. Mattheos Koffas of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Koffas’s laboratory is known for pioneering work on the engineering of microbial platforms that can produce natural products typically derived from animal and plant sources.

“Recognizing June’s immense impact on the creation of SBE and her commitment to mentoring early career talent, it is a privilege to raise funds to endow the Bio Leadership award in perpetuity,” said Arindam Bose, AIChE Fellow and Foundation Trustee.

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▲ June Wispelwey Bio Leadership Fellowship recipient, Mattheos Koffas.

Safety and Ethical Practice

Where Process Engineers Thrive

Founded in 2018 with a generous gift from Scott & Karen Love, the Community of Process Engineers (CPE) is a vibrant hub for these essential professionals.

Scott Love envisioned the CPE as a place where process engineers could feel valued and recognized for their significant contributions to various industries.

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▲ Process Engineer Taliya Mammadhasanzade on site at BP Azeri-Central-East (ACE) Platform, Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey (AGT) region.

With over 700 members and growing, the CPE fosters a collaborative network where process engineers delve into discussions on career development, essential skills, complex topics like computational fluid dynamics, and safety practices.

“CPE is the place to create opportunities, collaborate, and support the professional growth of process engineers,” said Scott Love.