Climate Change – anengineering perspective
H. Michael Cheung, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor and Chair
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
The University of Akron
Global Warming. Climate Change. Rising Natural Hazard Risk. All are effectively synonyms for our planet’s changing conditions; though the politics of the terms sometimes overshadows the need for us to understand and be preparing to respond to the changes taking place. I hope to present as apolitical a view as possible of the challenges facing us from an engineering perspective. Recognizing that there is always uncertainty in understanding a system as complex as our climate, I will try to answer the questions: What is happening? Why is it happening? And what things might we do to mitigate the impacts of Earth’s changing conditions?
Bio: Mike Cheung earned his B.S. in 1979, M.S. in 1982, and Ph.D. in 1985 all in Chemical Engineering and all at Case Western Reserve University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Ohio. Mike joined the Chemical Engineering faculty at The University of Akron in 1984 as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor & tenured in 1989 and promoted to Professor in 1998. Mike became Chair of the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering in 2013 and since 2016 has also been serving as Interim Director for the National Center for Education and Research in Corrosion and Materials Performance. His research interests include polymerization in nanostructured colloid systems, laser light scattering, supercritical fluid processing, and sonochemistry. His work has thus far produced nine Ph.D.s, 24 M.S.s, 38 refereed publications and six patents. Outside of the classroom and laboratory, Mike is active in governance at The University of Akron chairing the Caucus of Department Chairs & School Directors in 2016 & 2017 and serving as past chair of that group in 2018. Mike is a former chair of the Faculty Senate and served as chief negotiator for the faculty union through its first three contracts. Mike has been active in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, serving as Programming Chair for area 1c Interfacial Phenomena, and the American Chemical Society, serving on the programming committee for the Colloid and Surface Science Division. Outside of his profession, Mike is active in his church, serving as a lector and eucharistic minister for St. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Hudson. Mike also is a private pilot and serves with a volunteer medical airlift organization called Angel Flight. Mike and his wife Mary live in Boston Heights and have three children, all UA alumni, and five grandchildren.