News
Mon, 03/31/2025
University of Kansas Receives $26M for Refrigerant Research
The University of Kansas (KU) is leading a new Gen-4 Engineering Research Center (ERC) funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) called the Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH). EARTH is headed by Foundation Distinguished Professor Mark Shiflett from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the KU School of...
Mon, 02/24/2025
Way cool: KU leads planet-protecting research on refrigerants
A new federally funded center, directed by School of Engineering professor Mark Shiflett, seeks to boost the Kansas economy while driving a heating and cooling revolution. As kickoff celebrations go, the launch of a research center dedicated to refrigerant technology might seem anything but cool. Refrigerants, the chemical compounds that...
Tue, 02/11/2025
Research yields eco-friendly way to separate, recycle refrigerants tied to climate crisis
Investigators based at the University of Kansas report using membranes — amorphous fluorinated polymers — that efficiently isolate complex refrigerant mixtures. Solutions for dealing responsibly with complex gases in existing equipment destined for landfills around the world are badly needed, according to researchers.
Mon, 02/03/2025
University of Kansas Renames Institute for Sustainable Engineering after The Wonderful Company
Recognition Honors University’s Partnership with the Global Agriculture Company, co-founded and led by Stewart and Lynda Resnick...
Fri, 01/10/2025
PhD student leads student engagement, diversity in $26M refrigerant initiative
As part of a groundbreaking national initiative to create sustainable refrigerants, a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student is taking the lead on integrating cultural and diverse perspectives into climate change solutions. ...
Fri, 11/08/2024
From Microsoft to Walmart, new KU research center on refrigerants is attracting strong interest from businesses
If you could have just one statistic to understand how good it is to be in the air-conditioning industry, it might be this one: About 3 billion people live in the hottest regions of the world, but currently only about 8% of them have air conditioning.
As new middle-class economies emerge in places like China, India, Africa and elsewhere, the industry estimates it will need to produce the equivalent of five air conditioners every second for the next 25 years to keep up with demand.
Fri, 11/01/2024
Asst. Prof. Ana Morais receives Collaborative Research Grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
Asst. Prof. Ana Morais in Chemical & Petroleum Engineering and Deputy Director for the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering received a Collaborative Research Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Tue, 08/27/2024
Odiri Siakpebru Receives Best Oral Presentation Award from 2024 GPCS Fall Symposium!
Odiri Siakpebru was the recipient of the Best Oral Presentation Award at the Great Plains Catalysis Society (GPCS) Symposium, hosted by The University of Oklahoma.
Wed, 08/21/2024
University of Kansas awarded $26 million for new Engineering Research Center from National Science Foundation
KU is the lead institution for a new National Science Foundation Gen-4 Engineering Research Center — Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) — that will focus on developing sustainable refrigerants to address climate change. EARTH is led by Foundation Distinguished Professor Mark Shiflett in the Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering at the KU School of Engineering.
Mon, 07/22/2024
Abby Harders Successfully Defends Thesis with Honors
Congratulations to Abby Harders, who successfully defended her thesis “Development of Membrane Technology for the Separation of Azeotropic Refrigerants” with honors today.
Thu, 06/27/2024
Andrew Yancey-Jardon publishes article in Chemical Engineering Journal
Andrew Yancey-Jardon publishes article entitled "A new activity coefficient model for describing adsorbed phase nonidealities" in collaboration with David R. Corbin and Mark B. Shiflett in Chemical Engineering Journal
Wed, 06/26/2024
CJ Ponge publishes article in I&EC Research
CJ Ponge publishes research article in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research titled "Zeolites for Sorption of PFAS from Water"
Wed, 05/08/2024
Abdulrhman Arishi publishes article in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
Abdulrhman Arishi published the research article entitled, “Separation of Azeotropic Refrigerant Mixtures: R-450A, R-456A, R-515B, and R-516A Using Phosphonium- and Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids” in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
Tue, 05/07/2024
Tiana Bish receives Academic Honors Award
Tiana Bish, Senior Undergraduate Researcher, working with PhD graduate student, Andrew Yancey, received the Academic Honors Award (GPA 3.5 or higher) at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024.
Tue, 05/07/2024
Hannah Uhl receives Outstanding Academic Achievement and Academic Honors Awards
Hannah Uhl, Senior Undergraduate Researcher, working with PhD graduate student, Abby Harders, received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (GPA 3.95 or higher) and the Academic Honors Award (GPA 3.5 or higher) at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024.
Tue, 05/07/2024
Hannah Uhl receives Most Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering
Hannah Uhl was chosen as the University of Kansas “Most Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering” at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024. Hannah will be attending Massachusetts Institute for Technology in the Fall to obtain a PhD in Chemical Engineering.
Tue, 05/07/2024
Dr. Kalin Baca receives Frank Bowdish Outstanding PhD in Chemical Engineering Award
Dr. Kalin R. Baca was named the “Frank Bowdish Outstanding PhD in Chemical Engineering” at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024. Kalin is now the Chief Operating Officer at Icorium Engineering Company.
Tue, 05/07/2024
Dr. Kalin Baca receives Frank Bowdish Outstanding PhD in Chemical Engineering Award
Dr. Kalin R. Baca was named the “Frank Bowdish Outstanding PhD in Chemical Engineering” at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024. Kalin is now the Chief Operating Officer at Icorium Engineering Company.
Tue, 05/07/2024
Hannah Uhl receives Most Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering
Hannah Uhl was chosen as the University of Kansas “Most Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering” at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024. Hannah will be attending Massachusetts Institute for Technology in the Fall to obtain a PhD in Chemical Engineering.
Tue, 05/07/2024
Tiana Bish receives Academic Honors Award
Tiana Bish, Senior Undergraduate Researcher, working with PhD graduate student, Andrew Yancey, received the Academic Honors Award (GPA 3.5 or higher) at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024.
Tue, 05/07/2024
Hannah Uhl receives Outstanding Academic Achievement and Academic Honors Awards
Hannah Uhl, Senior Undergraduate Researcher, working with PhD graduate student, Abby Harders, received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (GPA 3.95 or higher) and the Academic Honors Award (GPA 3.5 or higher) at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024.
Mon, 04/22/2024
Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering participates in the Big Event
A group of chemical engineering students, alumni, and staff from the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable
Engineering at the University of Kansas came together again for the KU Big Event.
Mon, 04/22/2024
Morela Chapman wins awards at ChemE Undergraduate Research Symposium
Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering Undergraduate Researcher, Morela Chapman, won 2nd place in the category of up to 2 semesters of research and the people’s choice award in the ChemE Undergraduate Research Symposium organized by KU AIChE last Saturday, April 20th.
Mon, 04/22/2024
Morela Chapman wins awards at ChemE Undergraduate Research Symposium
Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering Undergraduate Researcher, Morela Chapman, won 2nd place in the category of up to 2 semesters of research and the people’s choice award in the ChemE Undergraduate Research Symposium organized by KU AIChE last Saturday, April 20th.
Mon, 04/22/2024
Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering participates in the Big Event
A group of chemical engineering students, alumni, and staff from the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable
Engineering at the University of Kansas came together again for the KU Big Event.
Tue, 04/09/2024
Icorium Engineering Company Wins Big at 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) in Houston
Dr. Kalin Baca, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer for Icorium Engineering Company, and Abby Harders, University of Kansas Ph.D. student and part-time Icorium R&D Engineer, competed in the Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) held by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship.
Tue, 04/09/2024
Icorium Engineering Company Wins Big at 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) in Houston
Dr. Kalin Baca, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer for Icorium Engineering Company, and Abby Harders, University of Kansas Ph.D. student and part-time Icorium R&D Engineer, competed in the Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) held by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship.
Mon, 04/08/2024
Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering students receive awards at the University of Kansas – 2024 Research Showcase
Julia Espinoza, Evanna Dominic, and Morela Chapman won awards at the University of Kansas – 2024 Research Showcase last week.
Mon, 04/08/2024
Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering students receive awards at the University of Kansas – 2024 Research Showcase
Julia Espinoza, Evanna Dominic, and Morela Chapman won awards at the University of Kansas – 2024 Research Showcase last week.
Fri, 03/01/2024
Icorium Engineering Company selected for prestigious Rice Business Plan Competition (Opens in new window)
Icorium Engineering Company, a sustainable engineering startup and spin-out company from the University of Kansas, is one of just 42 student-led startups from around the world selected for the prestigious Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC).