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The paradigms of Chemical Engineering: The new frontiers

Abstract:

James Wei, a professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering-MIT, used the paradigm concept in 1988, introduced by T. Kuhn, to characterize the steps of evolution of the Chemical Engineering. Wei identified three periods: the pre-paradigmatic, a first paradigm which he relates to the publication of the text ‘Principles of Chemical Engineering’ and a second paradigm associated with the text: ‘Transport Phenomena’ by Bird, Stewart and Lightfoot, in 1960. Wei's paradigms are reductionistic as well as limited and need to be expanded and updated. In this work three steps are identified: the pre-paradigmatic, the paradigm of Unit operations, and the paradigm of the Science of Chemical Engineering. Reference is made to the new frontiers of Chemical Engineering and to the requirement to include new academic disciplines and new techniques of teaching and learning.