Written by Sydney O'Shaughnessy, Communications & Media Specialist in the Division on Earth and Life Studies at The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Today, the Earth has around 8 billion people. That is a lot of people using Earth's resources! In the past, people and businesses used resources like they could not run out. Scientists learned that the Earth's resources won't last forever. How people use the Earth matters! For example, fossil fuels are burned to create energy and power machines. But burning fossil fuels puts a lot of carbon dioxide into the air. This contributes to climate change.

Ling Fei is an assistant professor and a chemical engineer. She works at the University of Louisiana Lafayette. Fei says, "For a long time, we used mostly fossil fuels for energy. This caused global warming and made temperatures rise. Chemical engineers are working hard to find sustainable energy sources we can use. They research and develop ways to make using clean energy sources more affordable and efficient."

By 2050, 1 billion more people will be living on Earth! Nine billion people will need food, water, and energy to live healthy lives. How can people get these resources without harming the planet? Chemical engineers like Ling Fei are working hard to answer.

Chemical Engineers & A Healthy Planet

Chemical engineers play an important role in managing resources. They design systems that can reduce the demand for things like water, food, and air. Chemical engineers can also improve the quality of these resources. They can also increase supply so there are enough resources for everyone.

"Chemical engineers offer solutions for environmental issues. One example is a way to pull carbon dioxide from the air. Chemical engineers also give advice to companies and lawmakers. They help people make decisions that are good for the environment," Fei said. "Their efforts play a crucial role in protecting our planet for the future."

Chemical Engineers & Renewable Energy

Chemical engineers make ways to use, store, and transport clean energy. This helps reduce pollution and other harm to the Earth. They work in other energy-related areas, too. You'll find them working on solar energy, biofuels, and nuclear energy.

Ling Fei works on creating batteries to store renewable energy. She focuses on improving lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. These are batteries that power lots of products we use every day. They are in things like smartphones, laptops, and even electric cars.

"The cool thing about Li-ion batteries is that they are small. But they store a lot of energy!" Fei said. "We can recharge these batteries many times. We don't need to discard them after use. We can just charge them and use them again."

Ling Fei and her team aim to increase the energy batteries can store. They want to make each Li-ion battery last longer. Her team is exploring how to create battery parts from better materials. They are trying to make parts from things like sugarcane byproducts and crawfish shells.

"By making batteries last longer, we won't need to make as many. This means we won't use up so many materials," Fei said. "Using batteries that last longer lowers costs and helps conserve resources." This will make batteries better for the environment. Chemical engineers also improve ways to recycle old batteries.

Improving how we create and store energy is one of the biggest challenges for engineers. They improve energy storage and develop clean energy technologies and sustainable fuels. Their work lowers carbon dioxide emissions and conserves Earth's resources.

As the global population increases, so does the demand for resources. The work of chemical engineers is crucial for the well-being of the planet.

"If only scientists and engineers take action, we won't achieve our goals," Fei said. "It's essential that everyone joins in creating a sustainable and better world."

Related Publications

New Directions for Chemical Engineering
New Directions for Chemical Engineering – Interactive Resource