The Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry is proud to announce that MEng student Saad Yasin and Professor Ariel Chan have received the Best Poster Award at the 2025 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference—one of the foremost international events dedicated to innovation in engineering education.
Their award-winning poster, titled Re-Engineering Chemical Engineering Education: Making Unit Operations Laboratory More Accessible Through 3D Printing and Self-Guided Learning, presents a proof of concept exploring the feasibility of 3D printing miniaturized Unit Operations Laboratory equipment, paired with self-directed learning materials, to enhance real-time, accessible engineering education.
The project investigates cost-effective methods for replicating handheld-scale versions of chemical process units used in the department’s undergraduate labs. These models are designed to be functional, incorporating off-the-shelf measurement devices, and are capable of operating in ways that demonstrate core chemical engineering principles and support the study of unit operation performance.
As a proof of concept, the poster demonstrates a scaled-down heat exchanger from the undergraduate lab; the system is fully functional, with its heat transfer capacity studied and simulated using Aspen Plus. This opens up opportunities to use the platform for other types of unit operation equipment and to support economical, portable, and self-directed learning, with potential applications in K–12 education, underserved communities, and remote learning environments.
The international conference poster award recognizes both the academic rigor of this work and the department’s leadership in advancing innovative laboratory education.
“I’m incredibly proud of Saad’s dedication and the hard work we put into this project,” said Chan. “To be recognized at a conference of this scale is a true honour, and it reinforces the importance of continuing to invest in educational research that puts students at the centre.”
This achievement marks the second consecutive year that education research from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto has earned this prestigious recognition.
“It’s been such a rewarding experience to work on this project with Professor Chan,” said Yasin. “Presenting our research at ASEE and receiving this award was incredibly motivating—it has reinforced my passion for education-focused research and its meaningful impact.”
“This award is also a reflection of the supportive and innovative culture in our department,” added Chan. “It’s exciting to see our education scholarship gaining international attention.”
The department congratulates Chan and Yasin on this well-deserved recognition. Their achievement underscores the important role our community continues to play in shaping the future of engineering education.