National Honor for Engineering Education Leadership
The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has awarded T. Alan Hatton, the Ralph Landau Professor of Chemical Engineering Practice, Post-Tenure, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the 2026 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education.
The annual award carries a $500,000 cash prize, divided equally between the recipient and the host institution, to support the continued development and dissemination of engineering education frameworks. The NAE recognized Hatton for advancing an immersive, industry-integrated model that has trained thousands of engineering leaders across multiple technology sectors.
Transforming Immersive Learning in Chemical Engineering
Hatton served as the director of MIT's David H. Koch School of Chemical Engineering Practice for 36 years, from 1989 until 2025. Under his tenure, the Practice School evolved from a program tied to traditional domestic chemical manufacturing into an international, multi-sector initiative. Student teams were placed directly into industrial settings at partner companies to address complex operational and technological challenges in fields ranging from biotechnology and pharmaceuticals to semiconductors and clean energy.
Unlike traditional academic assignments, student projects in the Practice School involve real-world industrial problems requiring execution under strict operational constraints. Hatton reshaped the curriculum to prioritize cross-disciplinary teamwork, project management, and technical communication alongside fundamental chemical engineering principles.
"Under Alan's leadership, the Practice School has demonstrated how rigorous academics, real industrial problems, and student responsibility can be woven together into an educational experience that is both powerful and adaptable. His work offers a compelling blueprint for the future of engineering education." — Paula Hammond, Institute Professor and Dean of the MIT School of Engineering
Long-Term Industry and Academic Impact
The NAE award citation highlighted the program's contribution to strengthening U.S. technological competitiveness and workforce readiness by preparing engineering graduates for immediate leadership roles in research and development, manufacturing, and industrial operations.
NAE President Tsu-Jae Liu formally presented the Gordon Prize to Hatton at a ceremony hosted at MIT. The award represents one of the highest honors conferred by the NAE for contributions to engineering pedagogy.