Celebrating 100 Years of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Tim Nolen April 15, 2008

What Do I Know About 100 Years?

I know about the last 25 years of AIChE! It doesn't seem that long ago

Outline
Early Days and FoundingThe first 25 years. Rapid growth and broadeningThe next 50 years. Maturity, Change, and Challengethe last 25 years. Thoughts about the Future Why Join AIChE Now?

Outline
Early Days and FoundingThe first 25 years. Rapid growth and broadeningThe next 50 years. Maturity, Change, and Challengethe last 25 years. Thoughts about the Future Why Join AIChE Now?

Emergence of Chemical Engineering

Manufacturing containing elements of chemical engineering date back thousands of years. But, unlike chemistry, mechanical or civil engineering, chemical engineering was not RECOGNIZED as a discipline until at least the late 19th century. Academic Courses called "chemical engineering emerged

A syllabus from the Glascow and West of Scotland Technical College 1888-1889. 1888 "Course X" at M.I.T. Lewis Norton

Other Disciplines Predated Chemical Engineering

American Chemical Society (1876) members generally thought that chemists could cover manufacturing Applied chemistry Industrial chemistry Plus Mechanical Engineering (ASME, 1880)Already recognized in the 19th Plus Electrical Engineering (AIEE, 1884) Century Plus Civil Engineering (ASCE, 1852) Plus Mining / Metallurgical Eng. (AIME)

Chemists were skeptical about "Chemical Engineering" "I am absolutely against the introduction of chemical engineering in the education of chemists." --Hugo Schweitzer, 1904 at ACS Meeting
Instead, he argued that industrial companies should hire pure chemists and train them in technical aspects required for their plants.

Richard K. Meade A Catalyst for AIChE Formation

Founded Journal "The Chemical Engineer" 1905. Organized "Committee of Six" to investigate founding a chemical engineering societymet six times in 1907. ACS leaders opposed Richard Meade and his committees M.T. Bogert ACS President and A.C. Langmuir both opposed having a separate chemical engineering group. Bogert proposed ACS programs for chemical engineers plus a new Journal of Industrial Engineering Chemistry.

The "Committee of Six" organized a movement toward AIChE formation.

The year was 1907

AIChE Founding June 22, 1908

Committee of Six Invited 100 prominent chemical engineers to organizational meeting in Philadelphia. 19 people attended and organized the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Samuel Stadtler elected first President John Olsen elected Secretary (held this office until 1927)

Two needs dominated the early AIChE

1. Minimize conflict with ACS ACS was formed in 1876, at 5000 members by 1908 ACS immediately formed Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering to pre-empt AIChE
2. Define what "Chemical Engineering" meant.

AIChE early membership requirements kept it a small club..

so as to minimize conflict with ACS Minimum age of 30 Proficient in chemistry AND relevant engineering field Minimum five years relevant experience College degree (or ten years experience) These requirements precluded chemists and academics.

So the early AIChE was a special club of few members.

Today, Eastman alone has >900 people with ChE degrees. Chemical Engineers in U.S. 1905: 500 1930: >10,000

"Recent Growth and Development of the Institute," Frederic J. LeMaistre, in Chemical Engineering in America, 1932, p. 33. Frederic J. LeMaistre was Executive Secretary, 1930 Secretary, 1931

Union Dye and Chemical 1918 predated Eastman

http://www.colorantshistory.org/UnionDyeChemical.html

AIChE helped define "Chemical Engineer"

"Unit Operations" as the basis of chemical engineering A.D. Little in letter to his Alma Mater, M.I.T. in 1915. Little organized a review of 77 chemical engineering programs, and produced a report in 1922 that helped shape and change the chemical engineering curriculum forever: "Chemical engineeringis not a composite of chemistry and mechanical and civil engineering, but a science of itself, the basis of which is those unit operations which in their proper sequence and coordination constitute a chemical process as conducted on the industrial scale.

Defining "Chemical Engineer" Part II

Not only unit operations, but describing and designing each unit using kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena.
1923: "Principles of Chemical Engineering" text by William Walker, W. K. Lewis, and W. H. McAdams of M.I.T.

Early Meetings/Publications
Spring and Summer Meetings each year for technical presentations. Published "Transactions" of the meetings which were critical to early formation of chemical engineering literature.

AIChE shaped chemical engineering training.

Starting in 1922, AIChE was the first engineering society to evaluate and endorse college curricula and programs 1932: AIChE joined other societies in forming Engineers Council for Professional Development (now Accrediation Board for Engineering and Technology, ABET). 18 Departments were accredited by 1931. Today, there are 154 accredited ChE Departments in the U.S. and AIChE continues to cooperate with ABET.

AIChE Accomplishments by 1930

Helped define ChE field and curricula Established accreditation program Instituted Spring and Fall Technical Meetings Established "Transacations" Established full-time executive secretary and headquarters in Philadelphia (1930).

"A Break with Elitism" finally carried the day in 1930

A.D. Little, 1919 President, and Henry Howard, 1922-3 Presidents, argued for broader membership, to no avail. "We should all agree that the Institute ought to be truly representative of American chemical engineers." Howard, 1920. It was not until 1930 that an amendment was able to pass with the 75% required majority to allow for more extensive membership.

Outline Early Days and FoundingThe first 25 years.

Rapid growth and broadeningThe next 50 years. Maturity, Change, and Challengethe last 25 years. Thoughts about the Future Why Join AIChE Now?

ASME Challenge
By 1930, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers was proposing a "Process Division" which threatened to expand into the area occupied by AIChE.
This, along with the rapid growth and unique definition of "chemical engineer" spurred opinion toward loosening AIChE membership requirements.

Membership Requirements
Before 1928: proficient in chemistry and in some branch of engineering as applied to chemical problems
1928 modification: "proficient in chemistry and the design, construction, or operation of a plant in which matter undergoes a change of state or composition" 1931: "proficient in chemical engineering and experienced in the design, construction, maintenance, or operation of a plant"

Broadening AIChE Membership Requirements

1930 proficiency in "chemical engineering" replaces "chemistry" 1943 Industrial researchers and teachers allowed as active members 1950 Automatic transfer of Junior members to Associate members at age 35 1954 Changed "Junior" to "Associate" and "Associate" to "Affiliate" and allowed Associate members full voting rights.

Chemical Engineering During the Depression Years Growth!

From 1929 to 1937: Earnings of top 45 chemical companies increased 28%. 35 of 45 chemical companies paid larger dividends. Production in 1937 surpassed the 1929 record high. Chemical workers in research grew from 3451 to 9467 (in 1938).

Tennessee Eastman 1938

(Photo: Eastman Photographic Services)

Tennessee Eastman Company 1963

(Photo: "Wings Over Kingsport")

AIChE Membership Growth Followed Industry Growth

"Scaling upThe Institution of Chemical Engineers and the Rise of a New Profession, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2000.

AIChE student chapters grew, too.

1921, Student chapters were authorized. 1922, University of Michigan 1929, 15 chapters 1932, Student Problem Contest Instituted 1938, 64 chapters, 4375 members 1958, 108 chapters, 7035 members 2007, 161 chapters

"Student chapters provide opportunities for networking, mentoring, student conferences, programming, career guidance, scholarships, awards, competitions, information, news." East Tennessee Section is one of the few without a student chapter.

Local Sections have a history, too.

Why have them? Geographical coverage Encourage closer professional/personal relationships More opportunities for leadership Provide programs with local relevance. History AIChE Council passed rules establishing local sections in 1922. Initially, local sections were limited to discussing "papers and informal fellowship" Rules were broadened in 1932 to allow freedom in programming Chicago Section formed in 1924. Detroit Section formed in 1928.

Local Sections exploded with membership growth.

Growth of AIChE Local Sections
120 100 80
Number

60 40 20 0 1920 East Tennessee w as the 14th LS, est. 1943.

1940

1960 Year

1980

2000

Our own National Presidents

Two National AIChE Presidents have come from the East Tennessee Section:
John H. Sanders, 1984

Jeff Siirola, 2005

AIChE Sponsored Research Institutes

DIPPR Design Institute for Physical Properties Research founded 1978 to fill industry need for better data as suggested by Bob Reid from M.I.T. in 1975. Is the longest running AIChE-sponsored research program. CCPS Center for Chemical Process Safety formed in 1985 in response to Bhopal disaster.

AIChE formed Technical Divisions

Purpose: Promote the exchange of technical information, and provide opportunities for affiliation in disciplines and emerging fields. Provide programming, awards, recognition.
Nuclear Engineering

Growth of AIChE Divisions

16 14 12

Transport & Energy Processes--TEP Food, Pharma, and Bio-Eng.-FP&BE Fuels & Petrochemicals-F&P Forest Products-FP Materials Eng. & Sci.--MESD

Number

10
Environmental-ENV

8 6 4 2 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 Year 1990 2000 2010

Computing and Systems Tech-CAST Safety & Health--S&H Management-MGT Council of Division & Forum Officers Separations--SEP Catalysis and Reaction Eng.-CRE Process Development--PD

AIChE grew into prestigious national headquarters.

From 1937 to 1961, AIChE leased space in various buildings in New York City, expanding as needed. In 1959, AIChE became one of the five "Founder Societies" buying into the "United Engineering Center" building across from the United Nations in NYC. The building was completed in 1961. 22 floors 283 ft tall $10 million original construction cost of which $300K was paid by AIChE. Architects: Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates (also designed Empire State Building).

Outline
Early Days and FoundingThe first 25 years. Rapid growth and broadeningThe next 50 years. Maturity, Change, and Challengethe last 25 years. Thoughts about the Future Why Join AIChE Now?

Change: No longer a Men's Club.

SOURCES: Tabulated by National Science Foundation/Division of Science Resources Statistics (NSF/SRS); data from Department of Education/National Center for Education Statistics: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Completions Survey and NSF/SRS: Survey of Earned Doctorates.

And in East Tennessee, too.

East Tennessee Section Officers--% Women
35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 1943-1979 -5% 1980s 1990s 2000s

But AIChE's exponential growth has ended.

"Scaling upThe Institution of Chemical Engineers and the Rise of a New Profession, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2000.

Chemical Industry maturity is changing AIChE

Trouble in Maturity
AIChE had a financial crisis 1998-2003 Financial assets declined in value from +$20.9M to -$3.4M Revenue decreased Costs higher Response2003 Restructuring Reducing staff Outsourcing journals, continuing education Assigning 3 Park Ave. lease Reducing other non-essential activities. ResultAIChE net assets increased to +$3.5M by Dec. 31, 2006. (Total Revenue: $16.6, Total expenses, 14.3 in 2006.)

AIChE now at 3 Park Avenue

In 1997, the UEC was demolished to make way for the Trump World Tower. AIChE moved to leased space at 3 Park Avenue in New York and pocketed $6.2 million from its share of the sale of the UEC building.

Outline
Early Days and FoundingThe first 25 years. Rapid growth and broadeningThe next 50 years. Maturity, Change, and Challengethe last 25 years. Thoughts about the Future Why Join AIChE Now?

ButChemical Engineering has a Future!

Maturity is not the end, but a call for productivity and innovation in traditional industries.
AIChE is addressing new challenges, e.g. Society for Biological Engineering (2001) Nanoscale Science and Engineering Forum (2003) Institute for Sustainability (2004)
Demand for materials and energy will continue to grow.

Industry Strategies and Trends

U.S. E.U.
Commodities Molecule Supplier Fine Chemicals Chemicals Functional Chemicals
Process technology Raw material basis Logistics "Verbund" Technical capabilities Customer orientation R&D competence

Mid. East Asia

Problem Solver

Market understanding Application technologies "Magic Ingredients" R&D / patents Marketing / Sales

Life Sciences
U. H. Felcht, "The Future Shape of the Process Industries"

Chemical Engineering: A More Diverse Universe

29,000 people working as "Chemical Engineers" in 2005 (BLS) Compare to: 210,000 people received B.S. degrees in chemical engineering in the U.S. since 1970. Probably 160,000 are still in the workforce.
8,000 7,000 1,600 1,400

BS / MS Graduates

5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 1970

1,000 800 600 400 200 0 2010

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

Graduation Year

Chemical Engineering is a foundation for a broader set of careers than just the process industry.

PhD Graduates

6,000

1,200

Some March Articles: "What are Chemical Engineers Doing about Energy? "Conference Explores Developing Bioeconomy "Biofuels in the News" "How Might Biofuels Impact the Chemical Industry?" "The Future of Coal-Based Power Generation" "DOE Restructures FutureGen to Emphasize Carbon Capture" "Harnessing Natural Energy" "Electricity Storage: The Achilles' Heel of Renewable Energy" AIChE and Chemical Engineers have a lot more work to do!

Why Belong to AIChE Now?

What AIChE Has Already Given You

Shaped and Defined Your Profession for 100 Years Accreditation for your ChE Dept. founder of ABET Center for Chemical Process Safety Design Institute for Physical Properties Publications / Meetings / Training Divisions and Local Sections Advocacy for Science and Technology

Other AIChE Member Benefits

Access to the AIChE eLibrary powered by Knovel The AIChE eLibrary delivers selections from the most relevant engineering and scientific references, handbooks and databases to your PC. You can then manipulate and search for content across the entire collection. Members enjoy free access to selections from Knovel's Life Sciences and Chemistry collections. Technical publications and books Save up to 10% on books and publications. And up to 83% on magazines. Choose from eight journal subscriptions and over 300 publication titles. Technical conferences Save $200 on conferences, where youll learn from industry leaders and meet thousands of industry peers. There are six AIChE sponsored conferencesand over 30 specialty co-sponsored conferences. Career advancement and support All Members have access to AIChEs exclusive career and employment services, including CareerToolsPLUS! for broad career support services at every career stage, including job search support. Also sign onto AIChEs premier Chemical Engineer resume database, CareerEngineer, AIChE's exclusive job search engine for chemical engineers. You can search by position, industry, city, state, country and company. If you're an employer, this is the best resource to fill a position-whether full-time, consultant or internship. 12-month subscription to CEP (Chemical Engineering Progress) The AIChE Member Directory Use this online resource to locate and stay connected with friends, colleagues and peers worldwide. Members-only insurance plans AIChE offers members portable insurance plans you can take with you when you change jobs or careers. You'll receive competitive group rates and flexible plans to fit your budget and your needs. A diverse, far-reaching network As an AIChE member, you'll have many networking opportunities to build and maintain professional relationships. Special financial products and services Explore AIChE's family of of financial products and services designed exclusively for AIChE members, including group insurance, small business and personal financial benefits. UPS discounts AIChE members receive deep discounts up to 26% on UPS Express shipping, and 10% on business services at The UPS Store like copying, binding, laminating, packaging and mailbox services. Car rental discounts AIChE has made arrangements for members to save 5 to 15% off regular rates every time they rent a car from Hertz or Avis.

Support Your Profession!

Your paycheck it's big! Your future and those who follow depend on a strong AIChE And:
A recent Monster.com survey of hiring managers and headhunters revealed that a whopping 79% see job applicants who are involved with professional associations as higher quality candidates than those who arent. as quoted by Annie Fisher, Fortune Magazine, Feb. 22, 2005.

So, here's to the next 100 Years!

Thanks for celebrating with me today. More celebrations!

November 16-21, 2008.

Also, see http://www.aiche.org/About/Centennial/Index.aspx

Join Your Chemical Engineering Profession

Join AIChE
www.aiche.org

Railroads matured too, but they are more important than ever today.

Railroad route length in the U.S.

("The Transportation Experience: Policy, Planning, and Deployment. [William Louis Garrison, David M. Levinson], Oxford University, 2005.

Railroads (and chemicals) China is a new driver "on the road."

The Economist, Feb. 14, 2008