Today in History – June 22, 1908 – Founding of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Last year, the AIChE Annual Meeting  celebrated AIChE’s centennial in its founding city of Philadelphia. The conference highlighted chemical engineering innovations over the past 100 years and looked into the future of chemical engineering and chemical engineering education. Below is a description of the Centennial activities from the AIChE Centennial website:

“The microchips in your cell phone. The LCDs in your new flat screen TV. The plastic wrap on last night’s leftovers. The pills in your medicine chest. The fuel in your car. The carpet in your living room. The insulin pump in your chest. In fact, there isn’t a single facet of modern life that chemical engineers haven’t touched. And AIChE members have been part of almost every major development from plastics and fibers to unleaded gasoline to nuclear and even solar power. If it’s modern, chemical engineers helped make it happen. Join us as we celebrate the centennial of AIChE’s founding. Throughout this year this space will grow to feature important events and developments, people and schools. And while we’re celebrating the past we’ll also be looking to the future, incorporating contributions from student members and content especially for younger students.”

For more on the history of chemical engineering and chemical engineering education download the chronology prepared for the centennial or visit the Engineering Pathway’s curricular resources in the Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular Engineering disciplinary communitity.