Two Davidson School of Chemical Engineering faculty were recently recognized for their excellence in teaching undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Rakesh Agrawal, the Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, and Dr. Stephen Beaudoin, Professor of Chemical Engineering, were honored at the September 24, 2019 graduate seminar.

How long the battery of your device lasts depends on how many lithium ions can be stored in the battery's negative electrode material. If the battery runs out of these ions, it can't generate an electrical current to run a device and ultimately fails. Materials with a higher lithium ion storage capacity are either too heavy or the wrong shape to replace graphite, the electrode material currently used in today's batteries. Purdue University scientists and engineers, including ChE's Dr. Vilas Pol, have introduced a potential way that these materials could be restructured into a new electrode design that would allow them to increase a battery’s lifespan, make it more stable and shorten its charging time. The study appears as the cover of the September issue of Applied Nano Materials.

Davidson School of Chemical Engineering alumnus Carl Margraf III (BSChE '01) was inducted into the Professional Practice Hall of Fame during the 10th annual Induction Ceremony Luncheon on September 13. The Professional Practice Hall of Fame strives to recognize leading alumni in their fields, as well as individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the growth of programs offered through the Office of Professional Practice.

Purdue Chemical Engineering alumna Dr. Mary Ellen Weber (BSChE '84) will take part in the Astronaut Reunion on October 12, 2019 at 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Homecoming Tent Row. Dr. Weber was selected into the 14th group of astronauts in 1992, tasked with working in technology commercialization. Weber is a veteran of two spaceflights, STS-70 in 1995 and STS-101 in 2000, logging more than 450 hours in space.

Davidson School of Chemical Engineering presented three of its distinguished alumni with the 2019 Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award. Mitchel J. Papanicolas (BSChE '65), Craig A. Smith (BSChE '72), and Kristin L. Thunhorst (BSChE '93) were honored at a banquet on Thursday, September 5. Every year since 1988, the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering has recognized alumni who have achieved distinction as leaders while making significant contributions to their fields, thus reflecting the value of a chemical engineering degree.