Overview

Join us for an evening of thought-provoking insights as we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the role and practice of chemical engineering. This unique event brings together leading experts and the next generation of engineers to examine how AI can both challenge and enhance the contribution of chemical engineers to society. 

The evening will also feature the presentation of the Essay Prize, awarded to students in their penultimate year of chemical engineering at Monash University, RMIT, and the University of Melbourne. The 2025 theme is: "What is the Role of Chemical Engineers in Society? How Can AI Help Shape That Role?"

Speakers

Dr. Chris Honig, Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne

Topic - First Principles Thinking for Generative Pre-Trained Transformers (GPTs) for New Chemical Engineering Applications 

Chris is an education-focused engineering academic and Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne's Department of Chemical Engineering. He is the recipient of the 2024 Hanson Medal and the 2025 GEM Scott Fellowship, leading the development of a GenAI Teaching Hub. His research spans generative AI, EdTech, and game-based learning for engineering education and practice. 

Liz Hallifax, Treasurer, Board of Trustees, Institution of Chemical Engineers

Topic - Responsible Use of AI: Implications of the AI Act for Operating Companies and Practical Case Study

Liz is a Chartered Governance Professional, MIT Sloan alumna, and Non-Executive Director advising tech and ESG startups. With a Masters in Chemical Engineering and a strong IChemE background, she is a recognised thought leader in AI governance. Liz chaired the 2023 Tech in Government Summit and advocates for safe, effective AI adoption in engineering and industry.

Dr. Rishabh More, Senior Lecturer, DEputy Director of Research, Monash University

Topic - Embedding Physical Laws in Machine Learning: The Chemical Engineer’s Role

Rishabh is a Senior Lecturer at Monash University and previously a postdoc at MIT. He holds a PhD and MS from Purdue and a B.Tech from IIT Bombay. His research in soft matter, energy storage, and environmental flows integrates scientific computing and physics-informed ML to model and predict material behaviour across scales.

Time

18:00 - 20:00 AEST

Event Schedule

• 5:30 PM – Arrival 
• 6:00 PM – Introduction and Presentations 
• 7:00 PM – Q&A 
• 7:45 PM – Penultimate Year Essay Prize Presentation 
• 8:00 PM – Wrap Up