Chemical engineering is often defined by calculations, diagrams, and datapoints, but practitioners know that there is a profound and often overlooked visual marvel in the technologies, research labs, and facilities we interact with every day. In the midst of our busy and technical jobs, chemical engineers rarely have time to view their work through an artistic lens. A bird’s eye view of a plant, the arrangement of pipes, or even a microscopic look at crystals — these are the scenes that define our global infrastructure and sustain modern lives, yet they are rarely appreciated for their hidden beauty.
With support from the AIChE Foundation, CEP is proud to announce the inaugural CEP Photo Contest. Launched officially at the 2026 AIChE Spring Meeting, the goal of the competition is to celebrate the beauty and impact of chemical engineering through compelling images.
How to participate
Submissions to the contest are open until June 19. Anyone 18 or older with a valid AIChE login may participate, regardless of membership status. Photos may feature industrial process equipment, microscopic imagery, factory layouts, or even engineers and operators in action. Each image must be accompanied by a brief description of the photo and how it is changing perceptions of chemical engineering, and participants are allowed to submit a maximum of three images each.
All images will undergo a first round of review and selection by AIChE staff. Valid submissions from the first round of review will advance to the public voting stage, which will begin July 1 and last through August 14.
Prizes and recognition
Winners will be notified October 1. Category winners will each receive $250, and the “Best Overall Image” — i.e., the image with the most overall votes — will also receive a grand prize of $500. Winning photos will be published in CEP’s November/December 2026 issue and will also be displayed at the 2026 AIChE Annual Meeting taking place November 8–12 in Minneapolis, MN. In addition, the photos will be featured on AIChE’s social media channels and ChEnected blog.
Get involved today and show us the world of chemical engineering through your lens! Help change perceptions of chemical engineering and showcase the beauty of our field. For more information and to participate in the CEP Photo Contest, visit aiche.org/photo-contest.
This article originally appeared in Institute News in the May 2026 issue of CEP. Members have access online to complete issues, including a vast, searchable archive of back-issues found at www.aiche.org/cep. Learn more about AIChE membership.
