Professional Development

The Safer Science Summit is an immersive event that empowers teachers to enhance safety practices in their school by deepening their understanding of lab safety regulations and protocols in STEM education.

What you get to experience:

• Immersive workshop with breakout sessions for teachers (grades 6-12) and higher-ed faculty
• “Train-the-trainer” day for lab inspections and chemical management systems
• Hands-on lab demonstrations
• Safety in Leadership workshop for administrators

The Safer Science Summit is an immersive event that empowers teachers to enhance safety practices in their school by deepening their understanding of lab safety regulations and protocols in STEM education.

What you get to experience:

• Immersive workshop with breakout sessions for teachers (grades 6-12) and higher-ed faculty
• “Train-the-trainer” day for lab inspections and chemical management systems
• Hands-on lab demonstrations
• Safety in Leadership workshop for administrators

The Safer Science Summit is an immersive event that empowers teachers to enhance safety practices in their school by deepening their understanding of lab safety regulations and protocols in STEM education.

What you get to experience:

• Immersive workshop with breakout sessions for teachers (grades 6-12) and higher-ed faculty
• “Train-the-trainer” day for lab inspections and chemical management systems
• Hands-on lab demonstrations
• Safety in Leadership workshop for administrators

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 Safer Science Summit is an immersive event that empowers teachers to enhance safety practices in their school by deepening their understanding of lab safety regulations and protocols in STEM education.

What you get to experience:

• Immersive workshop with breakout sessions for teachers (grades 6-12) and higher-ed faculty
• “Train-the-trainer” day for lab inspections and chemical management systems
• Hands-on lab demonstrations
• Safety in Leadership workshop for administrators

All sessions run 8:00am to 4:00pm PT (11:00am to 7:00pm ET), with the exception of the last day as a half day.

Interdisciplinary discussion bringing together policy experts from Harvard’s Kennedy School, chemical industry, and the nonprofit ChemFORWARD 

How can we reduce the impacts of the most toxic chemicals in today's supply chains? 

Join the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program for a discussion panel on the role of information access in enhancing environmental initiatives to reduce pollution and chemical toxins. Panelists - including Harvard Kennedy School experts, industry leaders, and representatives from ChemFORWARD, the 2024 winner of the Roy Award for Environmental Partnership - will explore the challenges that the private sector faces in addressing toxic pollution, the upsides and downsides of regulatory approaches, and lessons learned from a cross-sectoral approach to chemical hazard mitigation. 

Q&A to follow. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. 

Recording: A recording of the seminar will be made available on the Belfer Center's YouTube channel. 

Registration: RSVP required. A Harvard University ID is required for in-person attendance; all are welcome on Zoom 

Register here:  https://hksexeced.tfaforms.net/f/registration?e=a4oPp000001PwRdIAK

Middle/High School Physical Science and Chemistry Teachers, you are invited to join us, as the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Belmont University announces a NEW half-day professional development workshop* this spring.

Build a spectroscope and ride the waves of light as we explore absorbance, transmittance, and the mathematical relationship among wavelength, frequency and energy in Wavelength: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of LEDs.

Why Register?

• There is no registration fee.
• Apply for a chance to receive a small microgrant for curriculum items, lab materials, or professional development opportunities that focus on green chemistry topics and classroom applications.
• Perform green chemistry labs, with an emphasis on preparation, student safety and chemical disposal.
• Receive a printed copy of both instructor and student versions of the labs taught at the workshop – including background information, lab procedures and analysis questions.

Event and Registration Information

• The workshop will run from 9:15 AM to 12:30 PM Saturday, March 29, 2025.
• Light breakfast snacks will be available.
• Registration ends Friday, January 24, 2025.
• Register under Upcoming Events at https://sites.google.com/view/its-easy-being-green-pd/home

*Expansion of my sustainable green chemistry workshop series is made possible by support from Beyond Benign.

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The ACS Green and Sustainable Chemistry Summer School (GSCSS) is a highly selective week-long program for graduate students and postdoctoral chemists and engineers. Each year, approximately 60 exceptional students from North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean are selected from a large pool of applicants and gather for this fully funded once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The American Chemical Society pays for all eligible travel and program costs.

Organized and hosted by the Green Chemistry Institute since 2003, the summer school typically features more than a dozen expert instructors who share knowledge and skills from across a broad spectrum of topics directly relevant to green chemistry and sustainability. Throughout the program, students attend lectures and interactive study/project sessions, present posters about their own research, hold discussions, and spend time networking both with each other and the GSCSS faculty. Alumni of this program have gone on to become leaders in many green chemistry and sustainability-related fields and provide participants with an extensive network of professional contacts.  

An exclusive online event on December 17, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Central European Time (11:00 am Eastern Time).

Designed for professionals in the chemical sector, these programs equip you to lead the transition toward sustainable practices while advancing your career. Our programs are delivered primarily online, in English, offering maximum flexibility to balance your studies with professional and personal commitments. 

At the event, you'll have the chance to learn about the unique curriculum, which integrates insights from international experts across academia, industry, and government. A special highlight of the session is a talk by Professor Klaus Kümmerer, a globally renowned scientist in sustainable chemistry. He will share his vision for sustainability's critical role in the chemical industry and explain how these programs prepare participants to be pioneers in this transformative field.

Take the first step towards making a meaningful impact in the chemical sector. Join us to learn how Leuphana University's postgraduate programs can help you stand out and shape the future of chemistry.
 

This free, virtual workshop is designed to help educators effectively adapt and implement a new case study that examines the various considerations and factors driving greener innovations in the metal plating industry. One of the primary chemicals used in this sector is PFAS, which acts as a fume suppressant to control chromic acid mist during the chrome plating process. While PFAS reduces exposure to the known health hazard of hexavalent chromium, its health and environmental impacts raise significant concerns, underscoring the need for greener alternatives.

The case study focuses on the design of a new non-PFAS, non-PFOS fume suppressant, applying the 12 principles of green chemistry. It explores the implementation of this greener product in real-world applications within the metal plating industry.

This resource is ideal for educators seeking to enhance their curriculum with real-world applications that align with the academic and professional guidelines for undergraduate programs, such as those set by the American Chemical Society. Participants will learn effective strategies for using the case study to illustrate to their students the critical interplay of chemical, environmental health, regulatory, and business considerations in the design of chemical products and processes, fostering a deeper understanding of the factors influencing greener innovations.

During the 1.5-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.

Workshop Goals:

• Educate participants on the interplay of the different factors influencing greener innovations including chemical, environmental health, business and regulatory considerations
• Guide participants on practical approaches to effectively incorporate the case study materials into their curriculum.
• Empower participants to adapt and implement the case study resources and expand their professional network.

Chat with us before, during, and after this workshop series in our Greener Curriculum Showcase Series forum! Hint: this forum is part of the January Scavenger Hunt Week activity!