{"id":15922,"date":"2026-03-16T10:40:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:40:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/sustainability\/?p=15922"},"modified":"2026-03-16T10:40:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:40:39","slug":"renamed-department-showcases-sustainability-focus-in-chemical-engineering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/sustainability\/renamed-department-showcases-sustainability-focus-in-chemical-engineering\/","title":{"rendered":"Renamed department showcases sustainability focus in chemical engineering"},"content":{"rendered":"

After more than a century of existence, the Department of Chemical Engineering recently changed its name to the Department of Chemical and Sustainability Engineering.<\/p>\n

The department\u2019s new name addresses a common misconception, better reflects the true nature of its academic offerings and research, and catalyzes new opportunities for growth.<\/p>\n

The misperception of chemical engineering<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Modern chemical engineering plays a critical role in advancing battery technology, developing energy-efficient systems, and reducing or remediating waste. The field is central to the global demand for sustainability, yet in the public eye, it is often associated with environmentally harmful industries, such as oil and gas. Although chemical engineers work across a wide range of sectors, many people\u2014particularly prospective students\u2014continue to associate the field primarily with petrochemical industries that are viewed as environmentally unsustainable. This perception obscures the reality that chemical engineers contribute to nearly every facet of modern life.<\/p>\n

At the University of Rochester, chemical engineering faculty and students conduct work in several research areas<\/a>, including biomedicine and biotechnology, catalysis and electrochemistry, energy and sustainability, micro- and nanosystems, polymeric materials, and simulations and artificial intelligence. Their work addresses major societal challenges, from developing safer and higher\u2011energy batteries, to reducing infection risk with biopolymer\u2011based implants, to designing manufacturing processes that minimize waste.<\/p>\n

Aligning name and identity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When the department voted on a proposal to adopt the name \u201cChemical and Sustainability Engineering,\u201d the support was unanimous. \u201cChemical Engineering\u201d alone no longer adequately conveyed the breadth of the department\u2019s societal impact or the opportunities it offers to students.<\/p>\n

Sustainability is embedded across the department\u2019s six core research areas, whether through energy-efficient manufacturing, recyclable product design, energy-optimized AI systems, or sustainable practices in healthcare technologies. Student researchers are increasingly drawn to these challenges, with nearly all undergraduate and graduate research projects being heavily engaged with sustainability.<\/p>\n

This commitment extends into the classroom. For years, the department has offered numerous programs and courses focused on environmental solutions, including an MS track in sustainability in the environment, a minor in environmental engineering (in partnership with the Department of Earth and Environmental Science), several sustainability engineering electives, and an Introduction to Sustainable Energy course required for all first-semester chemical engineering students.<\/p>\n

Adding \u201cSustainability Engineering\u201d to the name was therefore seen as an advantage to the department, with the hope that it will more immediately and clearly signal to students the department\u2019s academic focus on addressing global environmental challenges.<\/p>\n

Unlocking new opportunities<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Few engineering departments nationwide have incorporated sustainability directly into their names, giving the University a leg up in achieving broader recognition of the sustainability advances coming from its engineering faculty and students.<\/p>\n

The name change is expected to help generate increased interest from industry partners, prospective students, and other University departments seeking interdisciplinary collaboration around sustainability.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the name change in <\/em>this October 2025 article<\/em><\/a> from the University of Rochester News Center.<\/em><\/p>\n

Written by Maryellen Zbrozek, Sustainability Programs Specialist<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After more than a century of existence, the Department of Chemical Engineering recently changed its name to the Department of Chemical and Sustainability Engineering. 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