Pinpoint Pharma, led by Davidson School of Chemical Engineering research scientist Dr. Arun Giridhar, took top spot at the 2019 Innovation Showcase. The West-Lafayette-based company specializes in custom compound medication for pets, and was founded by Dr. Giridhar and Purdue Chemical Engineering faculty Dr. Gintaras Reklaitis and Dr. Zoltan Nagy. Pinpoint Pharma received the $10,000 grand prize from this year's pitch competition. The event featured 20 companies pitching their ideas to a panel of judges at the 11th annual showcase.

Plastic bag pollution has become a huge environmental problem, since many plastic bags are used only once and then disposed, ending up in landfills, oceans, and elsewhere in the environment. Dr. Vilas Pol, Associate Professor in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, is leading ViPER lab's research on ways to upcycle plastics into battery parts and reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment.

The 2019 Data Science in Chemical Engineering Symposium will be held on September 6 at Purdue University in the Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering Henson Atrium. During this event, symposium attendees will gain a broad understanding of data science and the importance of its application to chemical engineering, how the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering is integrating data science in its curriculum, and how students can get involved in this important field.

Davidson School of Chemical Engineering Professor Vilas Pol has been selected to receive the 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Program Committee's Professional Achievement Award for Innovations in Green Process Engineering for Sustainable Energy and Environment, based on his distinguished contributions as an educator and for his outstanding professional achievement in advancing innovations in green process engineering.

Davidson School of Chemical Engineering research scientist Dr. Zhenhua Zeng has been selected to receive the 2019-2020 Electrochemical Society Toyota Fellowship in recognition of his research in green energy technology. Dr. Zeng was one of only five recipients nationwide to receive this year’s fellowship awards.