An Interview with John Chen AIChE President Elect

Chemical Engineering Progress, Feb 2005

John C. Chen, professor of chemical engineering and former dean of the P.C.Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science at Lehigh University, has been elected to serve as AIChE's President in 2006. Chen served the past 4 years as Institute Secretary.

Chen earned his undergraduate degree at Cooper Union, his MS degree at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now the Carnegie Mellon University), and PhD at the University of Michigan. After graduation, Chen practiced chemical engineering in several different venues - first as a process engineer with the Lummus Company, then as a research engineer at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and finally as a professorat Lehigh University. "Looking back, feel blessed to have had such excellent opportunities for learning and practice," Chen told AIChExtra. "For me, chemical engineering has been intriguing, challenging, never boring, and often rewarding."

"While all of these positions were rewarding, I must admit that the personal pursuit of teaching and research was the most satisfying of all," Chen added. Indeed, Chen served for over 25 years as professor in two different departments at Lehigh University. His research specialty of multiphase transport phenomena overlapped the fields of chemical and mechanical engineering. He served as professor of mechanical engineering for 10 years and as professor of chemical engineering for 25 years. At request of the university, Chen also served as chair of department of chemical engineering and as dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

An active member since his graduate days, Chen credits his involvement in snaping his overall perspective of the engineering profession. "To a large extent, AIChE and its many realms of activities defines for me the profession of 'chemical engineering,'" said Chen. "The opportunities it provided for learning at the frontiers of our field, for networking with colleagues worldwide, and for practicing volunteer leadership are of inestimable value."

Chen recognizes that the chemical engineering profession is in a time of change. "With a broad-based technical education, the chemical engineer is able to think from the microscale of molecules to the system scale of entire plants, and has always been able to contribute to a wide spectrum of technologies and industries," said Chen. According to Chen, this is evident as the new fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology join the legacy industries of chemicals, petroleum, and polymers. Underlying both new and legacy industries, there are the basic needs for energy and sustainability technologies.

"Opportunities abound, but the chemical engineering profession needs to sustain a sense of identity, as future students are educated and disperse to practices in varied fields and industries." Key issues include the question of curriculum balance and specialization in our tertiary education, and, at the practicing level, issues of societal impact, credibility with the public and government, and globalization of industries. To Chen, this begs the question - how can a professional society such as AIChE help the profession and the practicing professional?

As secretary for the last four years and most recently the presidential-candidate for the Institute, Chen has given this question much thought. In his conversation, he outlined his thoughts, concerns, and hopes for AIChE. "Thanks to the cooperative efforts of members, volunteer leaders, and staff, we have weathered a financial crisis, but rational frugality is still necessary."

Yet Chen states, that even in a frugal environment, AIChE and its members can start to build anew. "The objective is to enhance the value of the Institute's functions, activities, products and services first and foremost to members, but also to our industries and to society in general," said Chen.

This upward route will take several years to negotiate, admits Chen. The first step is due diligence by volunteer leaders and staff to understand causes, set goals, and develop strategies. Input from all parts of our Institute is very necessary and most welcomed. Indeed, "Presidents Bill Byers and Jeff Siirola and Executive Director John Sofranko have taken steps in addressing these concerns. I look forward to working with them, with volunteer leaders, and with members and staff as we revitalize our Institute," said Chen.

As President Elect, Chen plans to work with volunteers and staff in analyzing membership trends, to discern root cause-and-effects for declines or growth. He will also work to identify technological sea changes of the future that offer opportunities for enhancement and growth for AIChE.