A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Chemical Engineering’s 2021 Capstone Design projects. They have been created during a time of great opportunity for our students. Now more than ever, there is a need for technological solutions, and the Class of 2021 is ready to address a wide range of challenges.

This virtual Capstone Design collection marks the culmination of our students’ final year, during which they identified, conceptualized and created their own designs under the guidance of our program’s instructors and mentors. Here, you will see the technical, problem solving and leadership skills of our graduating class – future engineers with the knowledge and motivation to adapt to our changing world and make it a better place.

We appreciate you taking the time to see for yourself how our students’ years of hard work are translating into new ways of bettering society.

Innovation, Resilience and Determination Chemical engineering is integral to many aspects of our society: energy, the environment, food supply, healthcare and manufacturing, to name a few. The rapid introduction and mass manufacture of COVID-19 vaccinations this past year reminds us that chemical engineers use their specialized knowledge and skills to develop powerful solutions, sometimes very quickly, under unpredictable and challenging circumstances.

Our chemical engineering students completed the final year of their undergraduate degree during the pandemic. They missed traditional, in-person milestones and they adapted their normal routines – continuing courses remotely, meeting with supervisors and industry contacts online and following special protocols to use laboratory equipment. The products, processes and systems they created reflect not only their innovation, but also their resilience and determination. Like the chemical engineers they will become, our students have applied their knowledge and problem solving skills creatively during uncertain and stressful times.

Appreciation Many thanks to the mentors, technical support staff and industrial sponsors who made these projects possible. Your involvement helps our students develop their skills and is a crucial aspect of our program.

Thank you for learning about our students’ accomplishments. Our graduating class is well prepared to meet today’s challenges and make positive change for the future. We all look forward to seeing the great things they accomplish with their many and diverse skills. Sincerely,

Marc Aucoin, PhD, PEng Professor and Interim Chair chechair@uwaterloo.ca

P.S. Industry involvement, which helps our students develop their skills and ideas, is crucial to our students’ success. To share ideas for future Capstone projects or learn more about how to get involved in the excitement next year, please contact the Chemical Engineering Capstone Co-ordinator, Eric Croiset. The process is rewarding on all sides.