Role of ChE and ChErs in the 21st century civilization: conceptual understanding of macroeconomic connections embedded in ChE discipline as related to the central theme (paradigm) of the 21st century civilization

Abstract

Chemical engineering (ChE) was conceived at the close of the 19th century as a new discipline which was designed to support then the newly-emerging industries, oil and petrochemical, by supplying the competent engineers equipped with the pertinent engineering fundamentals and skills. It helped the said industries meet the various demands and ramifications of the new pattern of the human civilization spurred by the advent of automobile transportation at the turn of the 20th century. Now ChE once again is ready to fulfill its societal responsibility as probably the most important discipline and profession in sustaining the 21(st) century human civilization providing the needed engineers (ChErs) and technologies. In this study, it is attempted to analyze the role of ChE and ChErs in this context, focusing on the macroeconomic connections embedded in the discipline that allow us to envision the big Pictures of the 21 st century civilization where the wellbeing of the mankind invariably hinges on five essential industries, i.e., medical, pharmaceutical, energy, environment and materials. It can be argued that ChE is the only discipline that can encompass simultaneously all those five industries indispensable to sustain the 21st century human civilization that can be termed the era of "enjoy-healthy-living-longer". It Is also believed that the historical mission ChE and ChErs are supposed to fulfill now is even bigger than that they took on a hundred years ago and subsequently accomplished with remarkable success in food, clothing, shelter and entertainment industries introducing various technological innovations. The macroeconomic viewpoints are called upon in this study as were in the 2006 article (Hyun, 2006) but focusing oil ChE and ChErs this time to view the connections embedded in ChE as the essential components in understanding the historical nature of the role and responsibility of ChE and ChErs. The new paradigm for ChE is also pondered over together with the frequently cited technology concepts such as IT, BT, NT, ET and ST which are regarded intimately germane to the characteristics and perspectives of the 21(st) century civilization.