Abstract

Optimization is, simply put, the science of finding the best solution amongst many feasible alternatives for general decision making problems. Every engineer and scientist will most certainly have encountered optimization in some form or another: from parameter estimation and model fitting, to experiment design, and to more advanced uses, such as optimising processes and plant flow sheets, and more.

A brief search through the Web will verify that there is an enormous volume of publications and books on the subject, regarding both applications and theoretical developments. There is no doubt that optimization theory can be very difficult to grasp, if looked at the level a mathematician would use to develop a mathematical proof.

However, this is not the intent of this presentation. The aim is to present optimization as an indispensable tool in modern engineering science. The intended audience is anyone interested to learn about optimization: where it can be applied in our discipline, how to formulate appropriate models, and where the state-of-the-art has reached with modern solver codes.

The level is such that the presentation will be accessible to undergraduate students at any year of the Tripos, whilst presenting the topic in a way that is useful to researchers as well. There will be no complex mathematics, but some equations will be used: basic algebra, basic calculus and a lot of common sense! Most of the ideas presented will be highlighted by applications in Chemical Engineering.