Chemical engineering has a rich past; chemical engineers have been identified with the large scale manufacture of numerous products including chemicals, fibers, foods, fuels, pharmaceuticals, plastics, pulp and paper, and rubber. Because chemical engineering is the most versatile of the engineering disciplines, chemical engineers in the future will contribute to diverse new and emerging technologies. They will seek new ways to process our energy and natural resources; they will play key roles in the areas of environmental cleanup and protection, management of hazardous wastes, and process and product safety. They will be involved in new technologies such as biotechnology and biomedicine, and in the development and production of new materials such as polymers, ceramics, and advanced composites.