Networking Event

Members of the Beyond Benign team and community will be at ACS Spring 2026 from March 22nd to 26th! This year’s hybrid event, taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, and online, will center on the theme “Collaborate. Innovate. Transform.” 👋 We look forward to connecting with you! Learn more and register here. If you are attending, stop by our kiosk (#1433) to connect, and be sure to attend our green chemistry sessions:

Bringing Green Chemistry to Life in K–12 Classrooms: Resources, Community, and Professional Development

Presented by Dr. Omar Villanueva, Beyond Benign Chief Program Officer, and Dr. Amy Cannon, Beyond Benign Co-Founder and Executive Director.

This session invites K-12 educators to explore practical strategies for integrating green chemistry into their classrooms. Participants will be introduced to Beyond Benign teaching resources, including the Soy Chemistry curriculum, classroom case studies, open-access hands-on activities, professional development opportunities, and the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community platform.

🗓️ March 22nd | 10:15-11 a.m.
📍 Room B403 — Georgia World Congress Center

 

Twelve Months of Green Chemistry at Georgia Gwinnett College

Presented by leaders from Georgia Gwinnett College, Veronica Sublet Breeden, Dr. Cynthia Woodbridge, Dr. Kathryn Zimmermann, Dr. Joseph Sloop, alongside Dr. Omar Villanueva, Beyond Benign Chief Program Officer and former Chemistry Department Chair at Georgia Gwinnett College.

This poster presentation highlights a year-long initiative engaging students and faculty with the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry. Supported by a Beyond Benign Green Chemistry Education Award, the program features monthly outreach events and faculty workshops to support curriculum integration and campus-wide engagement.

🗓️ March 22nd | 12-2 p.m.
📍 Poster Session — Exhibit Hall B/C

 

The Future of Chemistry: Designing Out Pollution

Featuring Dr. Juliana Vidal, Beyond Benign Senior Program Manager, and Ann Lee-Jeffs, Beyond Benign Board Member.

This panel, presented by the C&EN Future of Chemistry Series, explores chemistry’s role in mitigating pollution and waste across product life cycles. The discussion examines emerging technologies and design strategies that reduce hazardous inputs and advance sustainable materials innovation.

🗓️ March 23rd | 1:30-3:20 p.m.
📍 Georgia World Congress Center

 

Inspiring Students with Sustainable Plastics

Presented by Cassie Lydon, K-12 Educator and Beyond Benign Certified Lead Teacher.

This educator session showcases classroom approaches for teaching sustainable plastics through green chemistry principles. Participants will explore curriculum activities, materials design concepts, and strategies to engage students in real-world sustainability challenges.

🗓️ March 22nd | 2:50-3:10 p.m.
📍 ChemPod 10 — Exhibit Hall B5

Celebrating Innovations in Green and Sustainable Chemistry Education: Quality Education — Green Chemistry for a Sustainable Future

Featuring Dr. Amy Cannon, Beyond Benign Co-Founder and Executive Director.

As ACS marks 150 years of advancing science, this symposium, organized by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute, highlights the expanding role of green chemistry in shaping a sustainable future. Grounded in the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal #4, the session explores progress in curricular integration and priorities for chemistry education.

🗓️ March 22nd | 2-6 p.m.
📍 Room B401 — Georgia World Congress Center

 

Partnerships as a Pathway for Green Chemistry Adoption

Presented by Dr. Melissa Hill (Vernier), in collaboration with Beyond Benign and the Lab Safety Institute.

This presentation spotlights how Vernier, Beyond Benign, and the Lab Safety Institute collaborate to create green chemistry experiments, professional development opportunities, and lab safety resources. Participants will be introduced to various tools, educator communities, and training opportunities that arise from these partnerships and will learn how to access and engage with them. By directly connecting educators with practical resources, the session illustrates how these collaborations can enhance the impact of green chemistry and support instructors in implementing sustainable laboratory practices.

🗓️ March 22nd | 4:40–5 p.m. 
📍 ChemPod 10 — Exhibit Hall B5 — Georgia World Congress Center

 

Partnerships as a Pathway for Green Chemistry Adoption

Presented by Dr. Melissa Hill (Vernier), in collaboration with Beyond Benign and the Lab Safety Institute.

This Sci-Mix poster presentation emphasizes the collaborative efforts among Vernier, Beyond Benign, and the Lab Safety Institute to promote the adoption of green chemistry in teaching laboratories. Attendees will discover how partnerships across different sectors are enhancing access to sustainable laboratory experiments, professional development programs, and safety-focused implementation strategies that make green chemistry more accessible and scalable.

🗓️ March 23rd | 8–10 p.m. 
📍 Sci-Mix Poster Session — Exhibit Hall B3/B4 — Georgia World Congress Center

 

Global Approach for a Systemic Change in Chemistry Education: Beyond Benign and the Green Chemistry Commitment Program

Presented by Beyond Benign team members Dr. Juliana Vidal (Senior Program Manager), Dr. Omar Villanueva (Chief Program Officer), and Dr. Amy Cannon (Co-Founder and Executive Director).

This presentation highlights the Green Chemistry Commitment, Beyond Benign’s global program designed to catalyze systemic change in chemistry education. By embedding green chemistry across the education continuum, institutions prepare scientists to design safer products and processes that protect human health and the environment.

🗓️ March 24th | 2:05-2:30 p.m.
📍 ChemPod 9 — Exhibit Hall B5

 

Green Chemistry Professional Mentoring Networks (GCPMNs): A New NSF-Funded Mechanism for Building Professional Development and Communities of Practice in Chemistry Education

Presented by Beyond Benign team members Dr. Jonathon Moir (Director of the GCTLC), Dr. Omar Villanueva (Chief Program Officer), Dr. Monica Soma Hensley (Instruction & Research Manager), Dr. Amy Cannon (Co-Founder & Executive Director), and community member Dr. Nikita Burrows (Associate Professor at Monmouth University).

This presentation introduces the Green Chemistry Professional Mentoring Networks, a multi-year initiative funded by the National Science Foundation to expand national capacity in green chemistry education through mentoring networks, curricular integration, and community-building research.

🗓️ March 24th | 3:35–3:55 p.m.
📍 Room B314 — Georgia World Congress Center

Join science educators from across New York's Capital Region for the 42nd Annual Eastern STANYS Spring Conference. This regional gathering returns to Siena University and brings together K-12 teachers, local experts, and science organizations to share effective classroom strategies and enhance science instruction across various disciplines.

All sessions are aligned with the New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS). Attendees can participate in two 45-minute sessions, along with the keynote address, to earn 5 CTLE credits.

👋 If you attend, be sure to connect with Beyond Benign Certified Lead Teachers Stefanie Loomis and Annette Sebuyira.

🗓️March 6, 2026

⏰4–9 p.m. ET

📍Siena University

🔗 Learn more and register

Mark your calendar for the upcoming Ask Me Anything (AMA) interview with Dr. Elizabeth Braun, Director of Educational Content and Learning at the Lab Safety Institute. From January 27th to 30th, Elizabeth will answer questions from the community and share her expertise in the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) forums!

At the Lab Safety Institute, Elizabeth collaborates with educators, administrators, and district leaders to strengthen safety culture and promote green chemistry across STEM classrooms. She focuses on systems-level improvement—supporting schools as they rethink chemical management, instructional practices, and professional learning to align safety and sustainability. Her work bridges policy, pedagogy, and practice to make safer science accessible to every learning environment.

💬 This is a conversation you won’t want to miss! Get your questions ready and meet us in the forums. 

PS: If you missed previous AMA interviews or want to revisit the insights shared, you can explore them here.

BioQUEST is excited to announce applications for the virtual BIOME 2025 (July 21-23), an event to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful transformation in STEMM education, are now open! This year’s theme of Catalysts for Change: Empowering Faculty to Move Forward Together, for educators, researchers, and innovators to come together, share experiences, and gain the support they need to navigate today’s challenges in STEMM education. BioQUEST is excited to welcome participants to engage in open conversations about teaching through adversity, exchanging new ideas, and working together to find creative solutions. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the movement shaping the future of STEMM education. The general application deadline is May 16, and more information can be found in the BIOME 2025 page. 

The 2025 Innovators Roundtable will be an opportunity for Change Chemistry members and non-members to engage with leading innovators, investors, and government officials in the green and sustainable chemistry space.

Structured as a series of dialogues exploring topics, the gathering will provide attendees with opportunities to meet and engage with key players from across the globe. 

The 2025 Innovators Roundtable will be hosted by Battelle in Columbus, Ohio and will consist of participants from companies across sectors and the value chain as well as consultants, academics, government, and non-profits. 

The Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers Inc. (PACT), in partnership with the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS), is delighted to invite you to the 39th Philippine Chemistry Congress from July 2 to 4, 2025, at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICON), Mandurriao, Iloilo City. The theme, “Beyond the Orbitals: Exploring the Multi-Realms in Chemistry,” promises an inspiring journey into the intersections of quantum science and chemistry. The Congress will bring together esteemed chemistry practitioners, scientists, and researchers from the industry, academe, and government agencies to discuss and highlight the scientific contributions of quantum science and technology to chemistry. We will focus on how these advancements drive research, foster innovation, and promote sustainable development.

Beyond Benign and Dr. John Warner are thrilled to attend the upcoming Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) Signing Celebration for Queen’s University! If you are located near Kinston, Ontario, please join us!

The GCC is a framework that unites the higher education community around a common vision to affect systemic and lasting change in chemistry education. Learn more and join the growing community! https://www.beyondbenign.org/he-green-chemistry-commitment/

Registration for the event has closed.

This free, virtual event is designed to empower undergraduate and graduate students with insights and connections to pursue meaningful and impactful careers in green chemistry and sustainability. Participants will hear from and interact directly with industry leaders and academics about career pathways, internship opportunities, and co-ops while building their professional networks.

Why Should You Attend?

• Gain valuable insight into green chemistry and sustainability career paths.
• Connect with professionals across industry, academia, government, and NGOs.
• Discover specific opportunities and resources to support your career journey.
• Network with peers and professionals committed to advancing diversity and sustainability in STEM fields.

Full program information can be found here.

At the end of the panel discussion, there will be "Career Speed Dating” breakout rooms with different professionals from academia, industries, and government organizations. When registering -please select the top 2 breakout rooms you would like to attend- see descriptions below:

Breakout Room 1: Career Paths in the Pharma Industry– If you are interested in learning more about the pharma industry, hearing from a biocatalysis expert, and potential co-ops. Internships and more, join this room.

Breakout Room 2: Career Paths in the Beauty Industry–If you are interested in the cosmetic industry and innovations in sustainable beauty, join this room.

Breakout Room 3: Career Paths in Academia– If you are interested in becoming a professor and the steps to leading a research lab as an associate professor, join this room.

Breakout Room 4: Career Paths in Tech – If you want to understand how to use your chemistry skills to advance in the tech space and potential job opportunities, join this room.

Breakout Room 5: Career Paths in Non-Profit –If you want to learn how to use your chemistry background to have a successful and impactful career in the non-profit sector, join this room.

Note: If you don't receive a confirmation email soon, check your spam folder in case it landed there. Upon registration, you will be added to the Beyond Benign email newsletter list—you can update your preferences at any time.

The AASHE 2025 Conference & Expo, October 22-24 in Minneapolis, MN, is your strategic opportunity to lead the charge in higher education sustainability.

In a world demanding decisive action, this conference serves as a pivotal forum for:

• Strategic Vision: Engage in high-level discourse on the evolving landscape of sustainability, and gain insights to inform your institution's long-term strategy.
• Leadership Development: Connect with a network of influential peers, cultivate strategic partnerships, and enhance your capacity to drive meaningful change.
• Knowledge Exchange: Participate in curated sessions designed to foster deep learning and facilitate the exchange of best practices among leading sustainability professionals.

This is more than a conference; it’s a catalyst for change! Secure your place and empower your institution's sustainability journey by registering before July 18 for early bird rates.

Join the conversation, live in the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community. Bring questions about all things green chemistry education and receive expert answers from K-12 educator, environmental justice advocate, and winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST), Nina Hike!

Nina Hike, a lead contributor to ChemEdX, specializes in youth participatory science and Next Generation Science Standards aligned curricula. She has published work on the Science Writing Heuristic, which fosters student collaboration and processing scientific knowledge gained through laboratory investigations. Nina is a 2021 Illinois PAEMST National Awardee. 

Find Nina's AMA forum here to join the conversation!

Find Nina's GCTLC profile here.