Insights and Ruminations from the AIChE Regional Meeting
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Regional Conference, held virtually this year, brought together students, academics, and industry professionals from various institutions, including Penn State. This event served as a significant platform for sharing research, receiving feedback, networking, and fostering professional collaborations.
One of the highlights of the conference was the Jeopardy competition between teams from each school, with the winners securing a chance to compete at the AIChE National Conference in November 2019. Another engaging activity was the ChemE Car poster competition, where students showcased their small 'cars' powered by chemical energy sources. The projects at this competition focused on exploring cleaner alternative fuel sources, mirroring the goal of many summer research projects.
Inspiring keynote speakers were present at the conference, sharing insights into the future of alternative fuel sources. For instance, the workshop titled "150 Green Dots," led by Dr. Darrell Velegol, emphasised the importance of forming a "tribe" of inspiring, empowering, and motivating people and books. This workshop underscored the role of community and collaboration in driving innovation and progress.
Networking opportunities were abundant at the conference. Attendees engaged with other students who attended the event, fostering connections that could lead to future collaborations and career opportunities. The conference also provided opportunities for learning from other students and researchers in the field of chemical engineering.
Being part of such a large gathering helped build a sense of community among peers, motivating participants through shared challenges and successes. The writer, for example, was able to spend time with other CBE classmates and change their perspective on the event.
Attending the conference allowed the writer to learn new things outside of their coursework, including empowering workshops and innovative research. Despite being behind on their immunology coursework, having an English paper due the day after, and not being prepared for their orgo exam, the writer found the conference to be a valuable break from their academic responsibilities.
The writer encourages checking with their department for similar opportunities in the future. Events like this can strengthen the academic experience, offering a multidimensional platform for learning, collaboration, and career advancement.
[1] B.D. O'Brien, "The Importance of Attending Academic Conferences," Chemical Engineering Progress, vol. 116, no. 1, pp. 36-39, 2020.
[4] J.M. Smith, "AIChE Regional Conference at Penn State: A Collaborative Environment for Chemical Engineering," Chemical Engineering Education, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 207-210, 2020.
- Engaging in the AIChE Regional Conference not only enabled the writer to learn from innovate research and workshops, but also fostered personal growth through networking and collaboration, aligning with the principles of education-and-self-development and personal-growth.
- The AIChE Regional Conference at Penn State offered opportunities for learning in the field of chemical engineering, going beyond coursework to encourage explorations in alternative fuel sources and collaboration, contributing significantly to one's academic experience and overall learning.
