Welcome from the Head of Department

Dr. John Backhurst

Welcome, or welcome back, to the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering - a Department assessed as excellent for all aspects of its teaching and judged to be carrying out research whose excellence is recognised both nationally and internationally. The building work which is evident everywhere is the result of being awarded £1.65M to improve the research infrastructure in the Department. The work should be completed by the end of December and it will enable the Department, in the words of one of the referees for the award, to "redefine the discipline of Chemical Engineering in the UK for the 21st century". In addition to the laboratories, the work will provide new postgraduate accommodation as well as a new and impressive entrance to the Department.

Significant changes have now been made to the structure of the MEng in order to give you a choice of appropriate modules which will enable you to receive a specialised MEng in Chemical and Process Engineering with Bioprocess Engineering or Process Control Engineering or Sustainable Engineering or Intensified Processing or a European Language if you so wish. The MEng Industry route is now well established and its first graduates emerged in July 2001.

The Student Handbook, which you all should have received, aims to give you in a single useful document all the information you need to know about the Department to enable you gain most benefit from your three or four years here. Please read it as it will help you understand how the Department works and inform you of Departmental policy on a variety of things including, for example, the handing-in of work, marking schemes and deadlines. It should form a reference document for all of your academic work. It includes section on study skills and time management since it is important that you use your time effectively and develop your own methods of study to secure your aims. It lists things which you must do and some additional points which are strongly recommended. Compliance with all of these requirements and recommendations will not guarantee academic success, but will go a long way towards helping you to progress effectively.

The Chemical Engineering Society will provide you with a programme of social activities and the Department has a number of very successful sporting teams who will need your support in the coming year. The Union Society and the University can offer further cultural, social and sporting activities to suit everybody and of course, there are all the additional attractions available to you as a result of living in Newcastle.

You are joining a Department which has a reputation for being friendly and welcoming. We expect you to work hard and will give you all the help that you need. Your personal tutor is your first contact if you need help or advice but I am always available if you feel the need to talk to someone else. Enjoy your time in the Department and obtain all the benefit possible from the whole experience.

Dr. J.R. Backhurst (August 2001)