Undergraduate Curriculum

Join Beyond Benign staff and faculty collaborators throughout x2026 (Canadian Societies for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering 2026 Conferences and Exhibition), for workshops, presentations, and discussions focused on green chemistry education, curriculum transformation, sustainability, and communities of practice. Meet Dr. Jonathon Moir and Dr. Monica Soma Hensley at the sessions below.

Workshop on Green Chemistry in Teaching and Laboratory Instruction

• May 25 | 8:00–11:40 AM ET | Meeting Room 810 | Workshop/Technical Session
• A hands-on workshop exploring practical strategies for teaching and assessing Green Chemistry across undergraduate lecture and laboratory courses.
• Featuring: Dr. Jonathon Moir, Dr. Monica Soma Hensley, Prof. Barb Morra, Dr. David Laviska, Prof. Kylie Luska, and Prof. John De Backere
• REGISTER HERE!

Green Chemistry Professional Mentoring Networks (PMNs)

• May 25 | 6:00–7:30 PM ET | Exhibit Hall DE | Poster Presentation
• Learn about Beyond Benign’s new NSF-funded mentoring initiative designed to support widespread adoption of Green Chemistry in undergraduate education.
• Presented by: Dr. Jonathon Moir

Instructors’ Perceived Impact of a Centralized Green Chemistry Education Database

• May 26 | 8:40–9:00 AM ET | Meeting Room 602A | Oral Presentation
• Explore research on how educators are using Green Chemistry teaching resources and the factors that support successful curriculum integration.
• Presented by: Dr. Monica Soma Hensley

Creating Systemic Change in Chemistry Education Through Communities of Practice

• May 27 | 4:20–4:40 PM ET | Meeting Room 602A | Oral Presentation
• Explore how the Green Chemistry Commitment and Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community are helping educators build confidence, connection, and long-term curricular change.
• Presented by: Dr. Jonathon Moir
   

Developing Instructor Capacity in Green Chemistry Education

• May 27 | 6:00–7:30 PM ET | Exhibit Hall DE | Poster Presentation
• Discover how Beyond Benign’s self-paced professional development course helps educators integrate Green Chemistry and sustainability into undergraduate teaching through practical, scalable instructional design.
• Presented by: Dr. Monica Soma Hensley
   

Green and Sustainable Practices in Chemistry and Engineering Education (2 Sessions)

• May 28 | Meeting Room 717A | Symposium
  • Session 1: 2:00–3:40 PM ET
  • Session 2: 4:00–6:00 PM ET
• Join a collaborative afternoon symposium exploring innovative approaches to integrating Green Chemistry and sustainability into chemistry and engineering education, including curriculum mapping, laboratory redesign, systems thinking, open-access teaching tools, and strategies for embedding sustainability across undergraduate coursework.
• Session Chairs: Dr. Monica Soma Hensley, Dr. Jonathon Moir, Prof. Kylie Luska, Prof. Barb Morra, and Dr. Alisha Szozda

Integrating case studies into the curriculum effectively provides context for chemical concepts and showcases real-world applications of green chemistry. If you are an educator in a higher ed setting, join a FREE virtual workshop on February 25th to learn how to develop case studies using a new template and instructional guide co-developed by Beyond Benign and the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute. 

Participants will gain hands-on experience with the case study framework and learn strategies for developing case studies that highlight how chemistry drives sustainable innovation. Facilitators Dr. Jennifer Tripp (University of San Francisco) and Dr. Tom Umile (Villanova University) will guide participants through these resources, offer practical strategies for adaptation and implementation, and create opportunities for educators to share insights. 

🧪Don’t miss this chance to expand your teaching toolkit and inspire future green chemists. Reserve your spot today!

Join us for a FREE virtual workshop designed to help educators teach Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Techno-Economic Assessments (TEA)—two essential tools in the chemical industry. Participants will learn how to confidently implement the module, "Exploring Techno-Economic Assessments and Life Cycle Assessments: Environmental versus Economic Evaluations of Soy-based Processes and Products," which is part of the new Soy Chemistry Curriculum. This module introduces students to these essential evaluation methods using open-access tools and laboratory-generated data.

Facilitator Dr. Julian Silverman, Assistant Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology and a co-author of the Soy Chemistry Curriculum, will guide participants through the resources, offer practical strategies for adaptation and implementation, and create opportunities for educators to share insights. The workshop will include group-based learning, discussions, networking opportunities, and a Q&A session.

🌱 Don't miss this chance to enhance your teaching toolkit, connect with peers, and inspire the next generation of green chemists! Space is limited—RSVP here.

This free, virtual workshop is designed to support educators in effectively adapting and implementing case studies based on soy chemistry. It also guides educators in developing their own case studies using a newly created template and instructional guide co-developed by Beyond Benign and the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI). Integrating case studies into the curriculum is an effective way to provide context for chemical concepts and highlight real-world green chemistry applications and sustainable innovations for students.

The soy chemistry case studies are part of a new curriculum launched this fall. These studies explore the industrial applications of soybeans as a renewable resource, demonstrating how green chemistry principles and sustainable innovation can replace petroleum-based products such as transformer oils, solvents, and wood adhesives. Each case study is designed to engage students with real-life contexts while reinforcing key chemistry concepts commonly taught in the classroom.

The case study templates help educators seamlessly incorporate real-world chemistry examples into their teaching, with an emphasis on sustainability and systems thinking. Each template includes a comprehensive workbook and user guide to support instructors through the process of developing and implementing case studies effectively.

This resource is ideal for educators seeking to enrich their curriculum with practical, sustainability-focused content aligned with the ACS Guidelines for Bachelor’s Degree Programs. Workshop participants will gain hands-on experience with the case study framework and learn strategies for using and creating case studies that highlight the critical role of chemistry in sustainable innovation—fostering a deeper understanding of the design of greener chemical products and processes, and equipping students to contribute to a more sustainable future.

During the 2-hour session, facilitators will guide participants through the resources, offer practical strategies for adaptation and implementation, and create opportunities for educators to share insights. The workshop will feature group-based learning, discussions, networking opportunities, and a Q&A session. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your teaching toolkit, engage with peers, and inspire the next generation of green chemists!

The goals for the workshop include:

• Educate participants on the use of case studies as effective teaching tools in the classroom.
• Guide participants through practical approaches for adapting and creating case studies for their curriculum.
• Empower participants to implement case study resources and expand their professional network.

We hope you’ll join us! There are limited seats available for this workshop, so registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register in advance below so we can reserve a spot for you. We’ll send the Zoom link and more details closer to the event date.