While sitting in on Chemical Processing's editorial board meetings, I have heard on more than one occasion that newbie engineers just don't have the hands-on experience needed to really hit the ground running. Our board members are highly respected in their field and are employed at some of the biggest companies in the industry, so I trust them when they say more needs to be done to help train future chemical engineers.
According to an article in Texas A&M Engineering News, Dow Chemical Co. is hedging its bets on new hires by partnering with the College Station, Texas-based university. Indeed, Dow will contribute $100,000 to upgrade and sponsor the laboratory’s fluid-flow and heat-exchange units, which help teach undergraduate students important industry concepts. An additional $200,000 will support the Chemical Engineering Endowment account and the College of Engineering Excellence fund.
"Dow wants to help ensure that future chemical engineers get the best possible training possible in the unit ops lab and is happy to be a participant in funding improvements to the facility," says Dow representative Mike Walzel, who is a member of the department’s advisory council. "We look forward to many more years of close work with the department and many more chemical engineering graduates becoming Dow Aggies."
That's certainly one way to ensure you have quality talent for years to come!
Did your college or university have similar funding? Or do you work for a company that sponsors education in the same way as Dow Chemical?
Traci Purdum
Senior Digital Editor