A Professor in the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences at Brunel University London is being awarded a prestigious medal for his dedication to the chemical engineering profession.
Professor Stefaan Simons BSc PhD CEng FIChemE, Vice Provost and Dean of the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences (CEDPS) at Brunel, is to be awarded the Trustees Medal by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) for his outstanding contribution to the work of the Institution, announced Monday 18 February 2020. He is one of 26 chemical engineers to be recognised for their contributions to the profession in industry and academia.
The IChemE is a member-led international professional engineering institution with links to over 100 countries worldwide. Its aim is to support the discipline and profession of chemical engineering through learned society activities and the accreditation of chemical engineering degree programmes.
The Institution’s 37,000 members work in a wide range of industrial and business sectors, as well as in academia, applying their expertise to the benefits of society, in particular in the reduction of carbon emissions from energy production and the use of the Earth’s primary resources, the field of expertise of Prof. Simons.
As the Inaugural Chair of the IChemE’s Energy Centre Board, Prof. Simons helped to establish the Centre and develop its work programme, alongside other volunteer Board members and IChemE employees. By doing so, he has helped raise the profile of Chemical Engineering in the energy landscape amongst policymakers and the global engineering community.
“It is an honour to be recognised by my professional institution for the work I have done as Inaugural Chair of the IChemE Energy Centre Board” said Prof. Simons.
“The Trustees Medal is one of the IChemE’s most prestigious awards and I am delighted to be counted in the company of so many eminent previous winners. Chemical Engineering and engineers play a truly significant role in delivering global prosperity, health and well-being, sustainability and equality and it is important that Governments and policymakers understand this and utilise our expertise to help them deliver on their commitments, particularly in regards to climate change.
“I will continue to support the IChemE and its members in its mission to raise awareness of the social impact of the chemical engineering profession. Congratulations to all of the 2020 medal and prize winners.”
Since joining Brunel in 2015, Prof Simons has led CEDPS through large organisational restructure and change projects, enhancing the capabilities of its constituent departments. He has also established chemical engineering as a new degree discipline at the University, the first new department there for many years. The Department admitted its first cohort of students in September 2019 and was officially opened by the Vice Chancellor on the 29 January.
The full list of recipients of IChemE Awards is available online.
Read more about Brunel’s new Chemical Engineering Department here.
See also the IChemE press release here.
Reported by:
Simone McNichols-Thomas,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 265219
simone.mcnichols-thomas@brunel.ac.uk