When Dr. Robert Speyer began teaching chemical thermodynamics, textbooks were a given—core tools that shaped how students learned complex concepts. Now, after years of teaching and refining his own course materials, Speyer has added to that tradition with the publication of Applied Chemical Thermodynamics.

The textbook traces its origins to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As classes moved online and routines shifted, Speyer used the time to convert his handwritten lecture notes into a more structured format, incorporating additional material from his graduate course. “We all suddenly became isolated; classes were online for more than a year,” Speyer said. “When the isolation finally ended, I had an early draft of the book. Since then, I have handed it out, chapter by chapter, to all subsequent classes. I would not say I had an overarching vision for the book; that developed over time.”

Speyer’s approach to the book was shaped in part by his own experience learning thermodynamics as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Typical of the times, the professor had expectations that we would read and understand the textbook, and then his lectures touched on highlights,” he said. “The book was rigorous and detailed in some areas, while in others it required clairvoyance.”

That experience informed his goal of creating a text with a clear and continuous narrative. Rather than presenting concepts as isolated ideas, Speyer designed the book to build logically from one topic to the next, helping students develop both computational skills and a deeper understanding of how thermodynamics describes natural processes.

“I have tried to remain grounded in my experiences of learning a subject for the first time,” Speyer said, noting that he writes with first-time learners in mind. “It is difficult to retain information when it appears as disjointed facts, with no perspective of what its purpose is.”

To address this, Applied Chemical Thermodynamics integrates applications and context throughout the text, an approach Speyer acknowledges goes beyond traditional expectations. “I sense that the authors of many of my thermodynamics books follow an unwritten rule of not delving too deeply into applications,” he said. “I have happily and frequently violated that rule.”

The book incorporates examples drawn from manufacturing, energy production, climate, and geology, alongside experimental methods used to generate thermodynamic data. Historical context and visual elements are also interwoven with theory to help reinforce concepts. Speyer compares the learning process to climbing a mountain: rather than a continuous steep ascent, the book introduces “plateaus” where applications and context allow readers to pause, reflect, and build intuition before moving forward.

He also paid close attention to the book’s structure and formatting. Example problems, derivations, and detailed notes are separated into distinct sections, allowing the main text to remain rigorous without becoming overwhelming.

The development of the book was shaped extensively by the classroom. Over six years, Speyer revised and reorganized the material based on student feedback.“Presenting the material live to a class of some of the brightest engineering students that can be found anywhere, and getting their feedback, has evolved the book into something I believe is unique,” he said. He also notes that MSE faculty reviewed individual chapters, offering suggestions that further strengthened the final version.

Now published, Applied Chemical Thermodynamics is being introduced to a broader audience, though Speyer recognizes that its future will likely span both print and digital formats. “At some point, I will convert the book to a digital format,” he said. “But for a while, perhaps out of nostalgia, I will stay with a printed book.” He points to the value of a physical text, including its layout, margins, and tactile qualities that support notetaking and study.

Even with the first edition complete, Speyer continues to refine the material. He has already identified updates for future printings and is considering a second edition that may include additional topics such as electrochemical thermodynamics and computational phase equilibria.

For now, Speyer remains focused on the classroom, where the book first took shape. “I will enjoy presenting the content to, and interacting with, future MSE chemical thermodynamics students,” he said.