Top 10 Highlights of 2017

As 2017 winds down, we celebrate some of this year’s top highlights.

	1. Texas ChE leads two new, multi-million dollar NSF-funded research centers Brian Korgel and Delia Milliron are leading research and education efforts for a $15.6M initiative aimed at advancing materials through fundamental science. Joan Brennecke is co-leading a $20M center that will develop mobile technologies for converting natural gas to transportation fuels.
	2. Faculty elections to prestigious national academies This year, David Allen becomes the 11^th Texas ChE faculty member to be elected to the National Academy of Engineering and Nicholas Peppas was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
	3. Inaugural class inducted to Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers Established as the department’s highest honor, we recognized 70 inaugural Academy members for leadership and technical contributions that have helped transform economies, improved quality of life and benefited society. Nominations now are open for the next induction on Sept. 14, 2018.
	4. Grand opening of the Engineering Education and Research Center (EERC) The EERC is the university’s new hub for engineering education, research and innovation and serves as a center for multidisciplinary collaboration within the Cockrell School of Engineering. The launch of the building marks a new era for Texas Engineering.
	5. New rankings show Texas ChE holding top spots in chemical engineering UT Austin ranked #1 for chemical engineering research funding (Chemical and Engineering News), and Texas ChE ranked #1 among public US universities (Shanghai Rankings) as well as the #1 producer of chemical engineering PhD graduates (National Science Foundation).
	6. Funding committed for construction of the Energy Engineering Building The UT System Board of Regents committed $100M to support the construction of an energy engineering building.
	7. Honoring Donald Paul’s 50 years at Texas ChE In October, Texas ChE hosted a symposium honoring Donald Paul’s 50 years with the department and his contributions to the field and impact on the global scientific community.
	8. John J. McKetta biography published This summer—just in time for Dr. McKetta’s 102^nd birthday— the University of Texas Press published the biography of John J. McKetta, Energy: The Life of John J. McKetta Jr., by Elisabeth Sharp McKetta. The book chronicles Dr. McKetta’s experiences in becoming the world’s foremost energy expert and distinguished professor.
	9. Four undergraduates awarded Texas ChE Centennial Scholarships In February, the department awarded four undergraduate Centennial Scholarships, thanks to the generosity of our gold-level centennial partners. Find out more about these students.
	10. 54 departmental faculty, student and staff awards Texas ChE Longhorns are changing the world. Read more about how our department is making its mark in Texas and beyond.