Biochemical Engineering

The heart of the biotechnology revolution, biochemical engineering has seen the launch of entire industries. Biochemical engineers work to develop sustainable solutions to some of our greatest challenges – whether that’s creating better biofuels and biodegradable plastics, or advancing large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing during pandemics. From the discovery and manufacture of penicillin in 1918, the extraction of nature's undiscovered potential is no less important today, sitting at the intersection of engineering, maths, biology, and chemistry. The problem, however, comes when applying traditional engineering principles and practices to biology. Unlike the underlying principles building something more static like a bridge, nature rarely offers a consistent framework to build upon; it changes, ever evolving. Applying engineering to nature requires a shift in thinking. Synthetic biology is all about learning from nature, and adapting that to create solutions for the benefit of humanity.In this episode of the Create the Future podcast, we speak to Kristala Prather, the Arthur D. Little Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT and Principle Investigator of the Prather Research Group.We unpack Kristala's work in biochemical engineering and synthetic biology and her route into the profession, explore why nature throws out the traditional rulebooks of engineering, and discuss ways to make STEM more accessible to future generations.New episodes of ‘Create the Future: An Engineering Podcast’ every other Tuesday. www.qeprize.org/podcastsFollow @qeprize on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

Engineering is for everyone and impacts all our lives. At this crucial moment for humanity, it couldn’t be more relevant to listen to engineers, thinkers, and designers as they debate how our future could - and should - look.Hosted by Roma Agrawal MBE and 2022 Young Engineer of the Year George Imafidon, this podcast facilitates deep conversation about how we might restructure and rebuild the world we live in, from microscopic cells to sustainable cities to intergalactic travel.New episodes every other Friday.Follow @QEPrize on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more.The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering - the world’s leading award for engineers - champions groundbreaking invention and bold innovation which benefits humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.