Dear ChemE Community,
If I were to sum up the last six months in one word, it would be: momentum. Faculty, students and staff have been working behind the scenes on projects for months and even years, and many of those efforts recently came to fruition.
- We recently opened the newly renovated Unit Operations Lab after more than three years of planning and two months of construction.
- Our undergraduate students placed in several competitions at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Pacific Northwest Conference in April, after revitalizing ChemE Car and our AIChE Chapter over the last two years.
- We held our first annual Design & Capstone Showcase in June, with nearly 70 students (almost the entire graduating class!) participating.
- We celebrated Professor John Berg’s 61-year legacy and welcomed a new faculty to fill John’s named professorship. Dr. Daniel Cárdenas-Vásquez will join the Department of Chemical Engineering in September as the John C. Berg Endowed Lecturer in Interfacial and Colloid Science.
We are navigating a time of profound change and uncertainty. But when I look at the incredible accomplishments of the Class of 2026 and the work happening within our department, I am buoyed by the dedication, resilience, collaboration, and innovation coming from our community.
This is why I am incredibly excited to bring you this digital-only Summer edition of the Catalyst! I am so proud of the work we are doing in ChemE, and I want to share this pride with you as core members of our ChemE community.
If you would like to send kudos, feedback, or story suggestions, please reach out to our communications manager, Tess Wrobleski, at tessw2@uw.edu. If you want even more regular stories and updates, check out the ChemE’s Instagram and LinkedIn.
We hope you enjoy this digital Catalyst!
Elizabeth Nance
Originally published July 14, 2026