Throughout this book, we have focused on the role that a chemical engineer plays in the analysis, synthesis, and design of chemical processes. In this section, that role is put in the context of the profession of chemical engineering, which is defined by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers as "the profession in which a knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and other natural science gained by study, experience, and practice is applied with judgment to develop economic ways of using materials and energy for the benefit of mankind."

      Far from being the "soft" side of engineering, the topics in this section are very much the crucial steps between a design in the mind of the engineer and the realization of a new or improved process or product in the service of humanity.

      That translation from thought to reality depends very much on the engineer's ability to:

Gain the necessary experience and knowledge.
Earn the trust of society.
Ensure that the process and products are safe.
Explain the risks to the public.
Protect the environment.
Communicate effectively to a wide variety of audiences.

      A chemical engineer is very much a member of a tiny technical elite of modern society. In the U.S., less than 1% of the population is trained in engineering and the sciences. Chemical engineers account for only 0.05% of the population yet design and manage the plants that produce such essential goods as pharmaceuticals, plastics, paper, fertilizers and pesticides, fuels, synthetic fabrics, and clean water. Chemical engineers use jargon and perform calculations that are mysterious at best to most people. Their success depends not only on performing the calculations but on convincing the public that they can add value to their quality of life.

The following chapters deal with these crucial issues.

      Engineering problem solving within an ethical framework, legal responsibilities, and professional registration are developed. Ethics case studies and the content of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination are included.

      Methods of analyzing risk are provided and the basic types of health, safety, and environmental regulations are explained, with references to government databases. Pollution prevention strategies are introduced through their relationships to HAZOP studies and to life-cycle analysis.

      Through a focus on audience analysis, strategies for improving the effectiveness of both written reports and oral presentations are explained. Commonly accepted (but frequently broken) rules for figures and tables are covered as are hints to effective use of communications software.

      Following a sample student design report, this chapter offers models of both strong and weak written communications in several formats: memoranda, visual aides, and short design reports. A checklist of common errors is provided.