Professional Development

As you may already know, Beyond Benign offers a valuable resource in partnership with Impossible Foods called Plate to Planet, which explores the intersection of chemistry, sustainability, and the future of food. If you’ve engaged with it—or are interested in applying green chemistry principles in new contexts—this is a great opportunity to go deeper.

The Good Food Institute is launching its first-ever Train-the-Trainer program, designed for high school STEM educators interested in the science and sustainability of next-generation food systems.

Participants will:
🧠 Earn 2.0 graduate credits (at no cost) along with professional development recognition
🔬 Explore the science behind plant-based, fermentation-derived, and cultivated proteins—including products like Impossible Meat
🤝 Connect with experts from both industry and academia
📚 Create hands-on STEM lesson plans and classroom-ready activities

This free, online program runs from July 6–31, 2026, and combines live weekly sessions with flexible, self-paced content. By the end, you’ll walk away with ready-to-use resources and a stronger understanding of food system innovation.

Learn more and apply here: https://gfi.org/resource/train-the-trainer-high-school-educator-program/ Applications close June 1st. 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me, Janie Butler, at [email protected].

If you’re looking to integrate green chemistry principles and practices into your teaching through real-world sustainable inventions, this is the course for you!

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Ready to take green chemistry to the next level in your classroom? Have you already started replacing your labs with safer materials?

Join Beyond Benign Certified Lead Teacher Annette Sebuyira as you expand your knowledge of green chemistry principles and practices by analyzing Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award technologies. In this course, you’ll dive into toxicology for chemistry basics and investigate the pedagogy for effective guidance of student-based research projects and inquiry-based projects.

THIS COURSE IS RIGHT FOR YOU IF:

•  You want to support your students’ project-based learning and invention in the classroom.

•  You have completed Intro to Green Chemistry and are ready to advance to the next level.

•  You are curious about how to foster student engagement.
 

BY ENROLLING YOU’LL LEARN:

•  How to expand your knowledge of green chemistry principles and practices.

•  How to infuse student-driven projects and research into your curriculum.

•  How to develop deeper real-world chemistry connections for your students.

COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE:

•  Analyzing Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award technologies.

•  Introduction to Toxicology for chemistry basics.

•  Integration of science research into your chemistry course.

New York teachers: Apply for the Beyond Benign Green Chemistry Fellowship to implement green chemistry lessons in your classroom and lab with support from expert teacher Annette Sebuyira! This opportunity is for lab-based science teachers who have taken the Introduction to Green Chemistry for High School Teachers course and wish to take (or have previously taken) the Advanced Green Chemistry course this year. Apply by June 1st and earn 16 additional CTLE credit hours if you’re accepted. 

If you’re looking to integrate green chemistry principles and practices into your teaching through real-world sustainable inventions, this is the course for you!

ABOUT THIS COURSE

• High school chemistry teachers and middle/high school physical science teachers: Join us for a course that will support Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) integration in your classes!
• In this course, Beyond Benign Certified Lead Teacher Cassidy Javner will help prepare you to integrate green chemistry principles and practices into your teaching through real-world sustainable inventions. You’ll also learn how to develop safer labs and lessons aligned to your local standards in an interactive online environment.
• This course features forum discussions, lesson plan development, and 3 synchronous Zoom classes. Discussions will focus on how to prepare for effective remote learning in this time of an ever-changing educational landscape.

THIS COURSE IS RIGHT FOR YOU IF:

•  You want to create a safer, more engaging learning environment

•  You’re interested in how problem-solving with chemistry helps create solutions for sustainability challenges

BY ENROLLING YOU’LL LEARN:

•  How to integrate green chemistry practices and principles into your teaching

•  How to infuse NGSS learning into your classrooms by developing safer labs and lessons

COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE:

•  Developing safer labs and lessons

•  Preparing for effective student-driven learning

•  Integrating green chemistry into your teaching

WANT MENTORSHIP SUPPORT? 

New York teachers have an opportunity to pair the Advanced Green Chemistry course with a new Fellowship opportunity for teachers interested in receiving mentorship support while integrating Green Chemistry into their curriculum.

New York Teachers: Beyond Benign is now an approved CTLE Sponsor! You can earn up to 48 CTLE credit hours, and more if you participate in the Beyond Benign Green Chemistry Fellowship. Thanks to the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute, these courses are free for New York teachers. For more details, contact us at [email protected].

If you’re a science teacher looking to create a safer, more engaging learning environment for your students, this is the course for you!

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Are you a science teacher looking to create a safer, more engaging learning environment for your students? Learn how to weave Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) sustainability content into your classrooms in this remote learning course for middle school and high school science teachers.

Beyond Benign Lead Teacher Erin Mayer will teach this course through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning. Participants will leave with a toolkit of resources and access to a network of other like-minded educators in the region.

THIS COURSE IS RIGHT FOR YOU IF:

•  You’re interested in engaging strategies for NGSS-aligned chemistry labs

•  You want to foster a safe and engaging classroom environment

•  You’re interested in how problem-solving with chemistry helps create solutions for sustainability challenges

BY ENROLLING YOU’LL LEARN:

•  How to weave NGSS sustainability content into your classroom

•  How to spark student interest and increase self-efficacy in your classroom

COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE:

• NGSS-aligned labs featuring easily accessible and safe materials

•  Plug and play lessons for physical science in chemistry classrooms

•  Lessons based on real-world innovations

New York Teachers: Beyond Benign is now an approved CTLE Sponsor! You can earn up to 48 CTLE credit hours, and more if you participate in the Beyond Benign Green Chemistry Fellowship. Thanks to the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute, these courses are free for New York teachers. For more details, contact us at [email protected].

It’s Easy Being Green: Budget-Friendly Safety-Conscious Chemistry Labs for the Secondary Science Classroom of Today

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 the 2nd annual half-day professional development workshop* this spring.

Explore the effects of density, solubility and intermolecular forces on mixtures, and learn how to apply separation techniques to isolate mixture components in Exploring the Effect of Density and Solubility on Mixtures and Separation Techniques.

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 28, 2026.
• Light breakfast snacks will be available.
• Registration ends Monday, March 16, 2026.
• Register under Upcoming Events at https://sites.google.com/view/its-easy-being-green-pd/home

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

Calling New York-based teachers in grades 6-12! Join us for our New York Green Chemistry Professional Learning Team, where your professional growth aligns with New York State learning standards for pedagogy and student performance. This collaborative initiative is designed to enhance your instructional skills through demonstrations, peer reviews, and a strong emphasis on lab safety. By exploring green chemistry principles and integrating them into your current labs, you will not only expand your knowledge but also help create a safer and more sustainable learning environment for your students.

Our monthly virtual meetings foster a supportive community of practice where educators can share their experiences and learn from one another. You will have the opportunity to analyze student work and refine your teaching strategies while building a collective repository of greener laboratory practices. Together, we will improve pedagogical skills and confidence, promote educational leadership, and enhance student achievement through real-world problem-solving experiences. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to collaborate and grow alongside fellow science educators!

💬 Led by Beyond Benign Certified Lead Teacher Scott Carlson

🗓️ Third Thursday of each month from February to June 2026

⏰ 7-8:30 p.m. ET

📍 Online - Zoom link upon registration 

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.

It’s Easy Being Green: Budget-Friendly Safety-Conscious Chemistry Labs for the Secondary Science Classroom of Today

Summer workshop, June 11, 2025

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 its 9th professional development summer workshop.

Build a light detector and explore the efficacy of UV blocking products. Expand both qualitative and quantitative understanding of density and weighted averages. Join us in Dive into Chemistry with Some Summer “Light” Readings and Floating Fun.

Why Register?

• There is no registration fee.
• 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 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (Central Standard Time) Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
• Lunch will be available.
• Registration ends Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
• Register under Upcoming Events at https://sites.google.com/view/its-easy-being-green-pd/home