Amanda Simson

Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering

Environmental Catalysis

Environmental Catalysis is a course inspirsed by and based on a text and a course by my former advisor at Columbia University and BASF, Dr. Robert Farrauto, who has been a consistent guest lecturer in the course. The class is built on introducing technology in the context of a place and moment in time, and the course explores the links between technology and public opinion and policy. For instance, we investigate the fundamental science, technology, and policy that led to the development of the Catalytic Converter in the 1970s, and the amendments to the Clean Air Act that shifted that technology in the 1990s. We also explore catalytic technological solutions to Acid Rain and Climate Change. The syllabus from the Fall of 2020 can be found here.