Exploring the potential landscape of chemical engineering science

Abstract

As part of the first anniversary issue of Nature Chemical Engineering, we present a collection of opinions from 40 researchers within the field on what they think are the most exciting opportunities that lie ahead for their respective topics. Modern chemical engineering is undergoing a marked phase transition. The field has built and dramatically expanded upon its roots in industrial process engineering over the past several decades; the pace of this transformation continues to grow in response to both scientific advances and time-sensitive societal and environmental challenges. This critical point provides an opportune moment to consider where the field and practice of chemical engineering may be heading, and what new science may again transform the field over the coming years. In this Feature, we sample this potential scientific landscape by asking 40 members of the community to share their perspectives on the most exciting opportunities that lie ahead for their respective topics. While our sample size is finite, this collective viewpoint captures a broad and diverse snapshot of the contemporary driving forces in chemical engineering practice. Here is what they said.