Abstract

The strong core base in chemical engineering during the latter half of the 20th century enabled chemical engineers to contribute extensively to many areas outside of the traditional. The depth of such involvement has led researchers to confront questions much more engaging to the field of application, thus adopting and cultivating expertise more native to it than to secure chemical engineering as a discipline. The progress of knowledge in science and engineering must leave a strong trail of fundamental understanding through developed methodologies that can assist in continuing progress. If this tenet is acknowledged, this article yields considerable scope for discussion on whether chemical engineering research is continuing to provide for a growing core that has endowed chemical engineers with the ability to formulate and solve important societal problems in which material systems undergo changes in composition and energy. We discuss opportunities for hopefully serving the issues of concern.