World’s first Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering receives IChemE’s prestigious Davis medal
18th September 2023
Professor Adisa Azapagic MBE has been presented with the Institution for Chemical Engineer’s (IChemE) most prestigious medal today, prior to her keynote lecture delivered at the European Congress of Chemical Engineering in Berlin.
The IChemE Davis Medal honours George E Davis, the founding father of the profession, and is awarded to an eminent individual who has rendered exceptional service to chemical engineering. It is not given more frequently than every three years; the previous medal was awarded in 2016.
The medal was presented by IChemE Past President David Bogle, who said: “I am proud to present Adisa with the Davis Medal on behalf of IChemE in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the profession and the enormously positive impact of her achievements. Sustainability and systems thinking are central to the modern discipline of chemical engineering, and her work exemplifies this instrumental approach.”
Globally, Adisa was the first appointed Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering. Based at the University of Manchester, she is pre-eminent for her work on sustainable production and consumption and is particularly known for her leadership in, and contributions to, carbon footprinting, life cycle assessment, and sustainability, for which she was awarded an MBE in 2020.
She has published over 200 journal papers, three books, and has delivered numerous plenary and keynote lectures worldwide. With two honorary doctorates and an H-index of 76, her work has significantly impacted industry and has helped to inform national and international policy.
In her many public and media engagements, she has acted as a role model, helping to inform consumers about what they can do for sustainability, as well as demonstrating how chemical engineers contribute to sustainable development in practice, building a positive public perception of the discipline.
Professor Azapagic said: “I am delighted that my work on sustainable chemical engineering has been recognised by this high accolade named after the founder of our discipline, George E. Davis. This award is particularly dear to me as Davis held his first lectures in chemical engineering at Manchester. I am also thankful to my group Sustainable Industrial Systems at the University of Manchester and many academic and industrial collaborators who contributed to and supported my work over the years.”
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Professor Adisa Azapagic presented with the Davis medal by IChemE Past President David Bogle.
Notes for editors
Professor Adisa Azapagic MBE is Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester. Her research interests include sustainable production and consumption, life cycle sustainability assessment and corporate sustainability. She heads Sustainable Industrial Systems, an internationally-leading research group applying principles of sustainable development and life cycle thinking in industrial practice. Adisa holds fellowships from the Royal Academy of Engineering, UNESCO and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
Professor Azapagic was awarded the IChemE Award for Outstanding Achievements in Chemical and Process Engineering in 2010. She founded the IChemE journal Sustainable Production and Consumption (SPC), of which she has been Editor-in-Chief (EiC) since its inception in 2015. Under her editorship, the journal reached an impact factor of 12.1 and has become one of the world’s leading journals. Through this interdisciplinary journal, she brought together chemical and other engineers, natural and social scientists and philosophers to work towards sustainable production and consumption. This is not only the first journal of its kind for IChemE, but is globally unique.
Previous winners of the IChemE Davis medal
2016 — R Clift CBE
2011 — A Liveris
2004 — Sir D King
2001 — Sir D Harrison
1998 — I Robinson
1991 — J Villermaux
1988 — Sir G Allen
1982 — Sir M Hodgson
1977 — Sir D Rooke
1973 — J M Coulson
1969 — F E Ireland
1965 — A J V Underwood
Contact
For more information please contact:
Lucy Cook, Communications Manager, IChemE
t: +44 (0) 1788 534454
e: lcook@icheme.org
Ann Baylis, Communications Executive & PR Lead, IChemE
t: +44 (0) 1788 534477
e: abaylis@icheme.org
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Chemical, biochemical and process engineering is the application of science, mathematics and economics in the process of turning raw materials into everyday, and more specialist, products. Professional chemical engineers design, construct and manage process operations all over the world. Energy, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, synthetic fibres and clean drinking water are just some of the industry sectors and products where chemical engineering plays a central role.
IChemE
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) advances chemical engineering's contribution for the benefit of society. We facilitate the development of chemical engineering professionals and provide connections to a powerful network of around 30,000 members in more than 100 countries.
We support our members in applying their expertise and experience to make an influential contribution to solving major global challenges, and are the only organisation permitted to award Chartered Chemical Engineer status and Professional Process Safety Engineer registration.