What is CACHE?

CACHE, which stands for Computer Aids for Chemical Engineering, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to promote cooperation among universities, industry and government in the development and distribution of computer-related and/or technology-based educational aids for the chemical engineering profession.

During the 1960s the rapid growth of computer technology challenged educators to develop new methods of meshing the computer with the teaching of chemical engineering. In spite of many significant contributions to program development, the transferability of computer codes, even those written in FORTRAN, was minimal. Because of the disorganized state of university-developed codes for chemical engineering, fourteen chemical engineering educators met in 1969 to form the CACHE Committee. The CACHE Committee was initially sponsored by the Commission on Education of the National Academy of Engineering and funded by the National Science Foundation. In 1975, after several successful projects had been completed, CACHE was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in Massachusetts to serve as the administrative umbrella for the consortium activities.

Some 140 academic institutions (in the U.S. and internationally) currently are supporters of CACHE. Representatives at each of the institutions form a major conduit for the distribution of newsletters, notes, monographs, proceedings, and evaluation copies of software.

Faculty and students at affiliate departments may obtain discounts on CACHE products, and can take advantage of reduction of registration fees for CACHE sponsored research meetings. Affiliates also are able to post faculty openings on the cachet academic-job board, and can view candidate profiles that are posted there.

The Industrial Affiliates Program provides an opportunity for industry to provide input on such issues as the computational competency of newly graduated students, and on chemical engineering educational software for academia and industry. Participants may work with leading researchers and educators to develop and evaluate new educational materials, serve on CACHE Task Forces, organize conferences, and generally support the ongoing work of CACHE. Direct involvement with leading edge researchers is a major advantage for affiliates. If you would like more information on the Industrial Affiliates Program, please fill out this form. This link will open a new window. After you have submitted the Information Request Form, simply close the window to return to this page.

All CACHE activities are staffed by volunteers including both educators and industrial members and coordinated by the Board of Trustees through various CACHE Task Forces. CACHE actively solicits the participation of interested individuals in the work of its ongoing projects. CACHE also awards for excellence in Computing in Chemical Engineering. Information on CACHE activities is disseminated through CACHE News, published twice yearly. Individual inquiries should be addressed to:

CACHE Corporation
P.O. Box 7939
Austin, Texas 78713-7939
Phone: (352) 624-0515
Fax: (352) 624-0508
cache@uts.cc.utexas.edu

The CACHE News is published twice a year and reports news of CACHE activities and other noteworthy developments of interest to chemical engineering educators. Persons who wish to be placed on the mailing list should notify CACHE at the above address. Contributions from CACHE representatives are welcome.