FAQs

The IChemE Young Engineer Awards for Innovation and Sustainability will recognise and celebrate the ideas and innovation emerging in the chemical engineering profession, supporting the IChemE’s vision of engineering a more sustainable world.

IChemE’s Strategy 28+ sets out the desire to work together to make an impact and contribute positively to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We invite all young engineers to submit an entry which celebrates your novel ideas in helping to reach this goal in one of the following priority areas:

• Clean Energy and Climate Action
• Water and Sanitation
• Food, Health and Wellbeing
• Responsible Production, Innovation and Industry
• Quality Education, including Lifelong Learning
• Process Safety, including Major Hazards Management
• Digitalisation, including Cybersecurity

Your entry will be based on either a new area of research/design/innovation, or a new application of a process or product.

The prize is independent of the IChemE Global Awards. However prize winners will be invited to attend the IChemE Global Awards as guests of the Institution. This will take place in Manchester on 28 November 2024.

As this is the first year of running the event we have not sought sponsorship. However, if you are interested in supporting this event or any future events please do get in contact via yeais@icheme.org.

Please email yeais@icheme.org.

• Undergraduate or equivalent – members studying full time for their first degree or undertaking an apprenticeship or related qualification.
• Postgraduate or equivalent – members studying for an additional Masters qualification, PhD or other postgraduate qualification.
• Early career – who are working in a chemical, process or biochemical engineering field.

No, for 2024 we are running a pilot event for UK based members only.

All entrants must be aged 18 to 30.

Yes. A maximum of four people per group who ideally (*) must all be in the same category**. All members of the group must be members of IChemE.

Yes. Submissions from non members will not be judged. To join IChemE please follow this link.

1. We invite all entrants to submit an abstract (max 500 words) which gives a succinct overview of the work you are submitting to the competition. Your abstract will need to be included as part of the application form.
2. For your main submission, you are invited to submit a poster entry using the template which can be downloaded here.

These two will be used in the judging process.

We also invite entrants to submit an optional one minute social media video to support their entry but which won’t be used in the judging process.

You can access the application form here. Your poster must be emailed to yeais@ichem.org.

If you wish to submit a one minute social media video about your submission please email that to yeais@ichem.org.

Each entry will be judged against several criteria:

1. Has the entrant demonstrated how a chemical, biochemical or process engineering concept can support the delivery of one of the Global Sustainable Development goals or the IChemE’s priority topics?
2. Has the entrant clearly communicated the key aims and deliverables of their project? What is the problem that is being solved and how will the solution be delivered?
3. Has the entrant clearly demonstrated the benefit to society in a qualitative or quantitative manner?
4. Is the idea innovative and what aspect of it is novel or new?

We do advise you to let appropriate colleagues, lecturers etc know as you may want to gain approval for intellectual property or any commercial sensitivities with them before you submit your entry. We are sure they would be keen to support you in any way they can.

Your entry can be based on either your own research that you have completed at any stage of your studies/career OR your own ideas of how current practices can be developed for new applications.

It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure that they are NOT submitting commercially sensitive information.

No, you can submit work completed for any other competition or award to this prize as long as your work is repurposed into the required template. You would then need to contact the organisers of other awards to see if the reverse is true.

If you would like to find out more about the application process and ask any questions, why not come along to a Q&A session to find out more. There will be two sessions:

• Tuesday 19 March 2024,15:00-16:00 GMT
• Thursday 21 March 2024, 15:00-16:00 GMT

If you are interested in attending, please email yeais@icheme.org confirming which session you would like to attend and we will send you joining details.

There are no financial prizes being offered. Winning entrants will receive:

• a trophy and certificate to recognise their achievement
• a feature article in The Chemical Engineer
• a digital badge so they can invite others to share in the success and celebrate with them on social media
• an invitation to the IChemE Global Awards dinner on 28 November 2024 in Manchester.

There are no financial prizes being offered.

6 June 2024.

At the event on 28 June 2024 or via email in the following week.

Not necessarily – please refer to the Terms & Conditions.

Yes this will take place at IChemE UK Head Office, Davis Building, Railway Terrace, Rugby, CV21 3HQ, UK on Friday June 28 2024.

IChemE UK Head Office, Davis Building, Railway Terrace, Rugby, CV21 3HQ, UK on Friday June 28 2024.

IChemE member volunteers will dedicate their time and expertise to help with the judging and celebration event. They will rigorously assess all entries against the set criteria and select the following for each category:

1. 1 x highly commended.
2. 1 x category winner.

For individual entrants they will be invited to bring one guest to the award ceremony. Where a submission is made by multiple entrants, further guests may be permitted but by request.

Travel bursaries of up to £200 are available on application. You’ll need to book your tickets/travel, keep the receipt, and request an expenses form from us as yeais@icheme.org.

No, but we have curated a list of local accommodation that you may wish to book. Please email yeais@icheme.org to request this.