Why and how can mathematics improve the learning in chemistry and chemical engineering?

Mathematics that is taught at all engineering universities in Sweden and other countries has not been changed for a verylong time. With the shift toward greater use of mathematical numerical tools in many engineering subjects, the content andmanner of teaching in mathematics are undergoing profound changes. Since the mathematics often is taught early in acurriculum, it is of interest to investigate how the learning in mathematics will have an effect on the learning in chemistryand chemical engineering subjects. In the present work we discuss how changes in mathematics education might influencethe way of teaching and learning for the following subjects in the chemical engineering programme at Chalmers.Furthermore, some thoughts are provided on how the changed mathematical knowledge and skills among students andalso integration in the engineering subjects might affect and help in a deeper learning approach in particular chemicalengineering subjects, such as fundamental chemistry, chemical reaction engineering and bioprocess engineering which areimportant subjects within the different Programs at the school of chemical engineering