Chemical engineering is a discipline that is
organized around producing useful materials by combining ideas from science and mathematics. In most cases, a chemical engineer takes a scientific process or discovery and engineers it so that it can be made on a large scale. This makes the products produced by these processes more affordable. Because chemical engineers make food, clothes, power, medicines, and plastic on a large scale, they are cheaper for all of us! Last year’s camp explored many of the exciting new topics within Chemical engineering, such as:
- Polymers, Catalysis Reaction, Imaging of Cell Migration, and Bio-transportation, etc.
- Unit Operations: Distillation/Separations, Extruder, and Bioreactor
- Refractometer & Refractive index
These topics were covered through lectures, hands-on activities and team projects. Some hands-on activities and projects that campers were involved in included:
- Imaging of Cell Migration Activity
- Hydrogel activity
- Shower gel activity
- Utilization of Distillation, Extruder and Bioreactor equipment
Campers also went on field trips to further understand concepts within chemical engineering and to witness how these topics apply to the real world. Campers went to:
- Lyondell Bissell Plant, Tuscola, IL
- Dow Agro Sciences, Indianapolis, IN
This year’s camp will include most of these topics and projects, but is subject to change.
Our camp coordinators are Dr. Diwakar Shukla and Dr. Joshua Bennett. Dr. Shukla is an assistant professor in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests are in using computational methods to address chemical and biomolecular engineering problems. Dr. Bennett is a lecturer in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the department’s head advisor and teaches the senior level chemical engineering design course and unit operations laboratory.
Chemical Engineering has always been one of our most popular camps, and it fills up fast. Apply today!