AIChE Introduces the L.-S. Fan Award for Chemical Engineering Excellence

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) has made a significant announcement regarding the establishment of a prestigious award aimed at recognizing groundbreaking contributions in the field of chemical engineering. The newly minted L.-S. Fan Award for Advancing Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering is set to honor noteworthy accomplishments and innovations that enhance fundamental practices within this critical discipline.

This award is named after the esteemed Liang-Shih (L.-S.) Fan, a pioneer in particle technology and a Professor at The Ohio State University. Angelic in its sentiments, the award will be supported by an endowment spearheaded by notable figures including Ah-Hyung “Alissa” Park, Dean of the School of Engineering at UCLA, and Bing Du, Technology Development Lead at ExxonMobil, in partnership with the AIChE Foundation. The inaugural presentation of the L.-S. Fan Award will take place during the Fall 2026 AIChE Annual Meeting, an event where cutting-edge ideas and significant advancements in chemical engineering converge.

Alissa Park expressed her admiration for Liang-Shih Fan, stating, "He is a seminal figure in the field of particulates and multiphase reaction engineering — a discipline whose economic and environmental impact resonates profoundly through the U.S. and world economies." Her words resonated strongly as she emphasized the importance of recognizing foundational work within chemical engineering, particularly work that fosters sustainable energy and environmental stewardship.

Liang-Shih Fan is not just an academic but a foundational pillar in the field of chemical engineering who has pioneered processes aimed at controlling harmful emissions of sulfur, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide, while simultaneously innovating strategies that convert carbonaceous fuels and plastic waste into hydrogen, chemicals, and liquid fuels. His inventions extend to groundbreaking technologies such as OSCAR, CARBONOX, and redox chemical looping. Notably, he also developed the Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography system (ECVT), hailed as the first real-time, non-invasive imaging tool for multiphase flow systems in industries.

Beyond his technical contributions, Fan has significantly impacted the educational landscape of chemical engineering. At The Ohio State University, he has guided a remarkable cohort of scholars, serving as the thesis supervisor for 97 PhD, 50 MS, and 14 BS students, while mentoring 72 post-doctoral research associates. His authoritative text, “Principles of Gas-Solid Flows,” is widely adopted in curriculums, and his edited book, “The Expanding World of Chemical Engineering,” has become a go-to resource for general audiences looking to gain insight into the field’s vast possibilities. With over 500 journal articles and 90 U.S. patents to his name, he remains an influential figure in academia and an active contributor to various scientific journals, including “Powder Technology” and the “AIChE Journal.”

The L.-S. Fan Award seeks to spotlight candidates who have consistently advanced the frontier of chemical engineering, focusing primarily on particle science and technology. This award will emphasize contributions that develop the multiscale, multiphase systems essential for numerous industries, including power and energy, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and renewable sectors. The scope of the award underscores the critical role researchers play in achieving technological advancements and innovative applications that address global needs for sustainable energy and environmental solutions.

As one of AIChE’s Institute Awards, the L.-S. Fan Award serves to celebrate the prominent achievements of chemical engineers who have made significant contributions to society and the profession at large. Candidates for this esteemed recognition will be nominated by their peers and announced at AIChE's distinguished Annual Meeting — the largest gathering of its kind, providing a platform for networking, education, and collaboration among chemical engineers.

The AIChE community, comprising 60,000 chemical engineers across 110 countries, embodies a collective drive to leverage chemical processes to create safe and beneficial products, touching lives worldwide. The establishment of the L.-S. Fan Award epitomizes the commitment to acknowledging the pioneers who lay the foundation for future advancements in the field. For more information about this award, interested individuals can visit AIChE's official site.