Educational initiatives in teaching membrane technology

Educational initiatives are important for the continued growth of membrane technology. Recent studies have documented the need to improve undergraduate science and engineering programs by incorporating more subject matter on modern separations. Membrane processes are vital to many of the emerging engineering fields. Scientists and engineers need to be knowledgeable in this area. Manhattan College has received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve the infrastructure of undergraduate engineering education. We have integrated membrane technology into the chemical engineering curriculum and have developed model laboratory experiments. An NSF-sponsored Undergraduate Faculty Enhancement Workshop was held July 29–August 7, 1991, at Manhattan College. This was a unique workshop bringing together faculty from across the country with leading experts in the field to learn about the latest advances and investigate methods of curriculum/laboratory development. The workshop had sessions devoted to various membrane processes, and workshop participants obtained hands-on laboratory experience with bench and pilot-scale membrane systems.