Virtual

Are you a program director for a sustainability or sustainability-related degree program? Is your five-year curriculum review looming… and maybe that process isnʻt working for you?  We know that sustainability degrees are different: interdisciplinary, community-engaged, career-oriented, justice-focused, and integrating climate literacy and resilience in the rapidly changing field of sustainability education.

In AY 2024-2025, AASHE will host a cohort of program directors who will work together to evaluate and update their sustainability programs using new program standards collaboratively developed by scores of stakeholders in the sustainability education community. This peer cohort will pilot program learning outcomes integrating the key competencies in sustainability framework, and the best practices that support them. Participants will complete their own program evaluation while working with other directors to further develop dynamic, context-sensitive guidance for the field. This work was developed by the pathways towards accreditation initiative and the Sustainability Education Community of Practice at the Global Council for Science and the Environment (GCSE). 

The Program Directors Cohort will be facilitated by Krista Hiser, convener of the Sustainability Education Accreditation Commission and will include additional guest facilitators and experts.

Hosted by: The SOT Sustainable Chemicals through Contemporary Toxicology Specialty Section, the Graduate Student Leadership Committee, and the Postdoctoral Assembly

Want to make a difference in the world by utilizing your toxicology skills and knowledge? Join our upcoming webinar for graduate students and postdocs interested in learning more about nonacademic toxicology career paths related to sustainable chemicals. A diverse panel of toxicologists will share their unique career paths including former and current roles, followed by a panel discussion—bring your questions! Distinguished panelists for this event from industry, nongovernmental organizations, and government backgrounds will provide insight into nonacademic careers utilizing the toxicologist skillset while also supporting sustainability. Don’t miss this enlightening session and discover where a career in sustainability can take you! 

Speakers: 

• Kaley Beins, MPH, Senior Scientist, Environmental Working Group 

• Shoba Iyer, PhD, Toxicologist, San Francisco Department of the Environment 

• Britt McAtee, PhD, DABT, Global Manager, Toxicology, PPG Industries

The AskNature Hive Live Monthly Conversation Series continues with John Warner, a world-renowned chemist, President and CEO of the Technology Greenhouse, and a leading advocate for the development of non-toxic, sustainable materials. In this month's conversation, John will share his insights and new reflections on how biomimicry principles can revolutionize chemical design and create sustainable solutions. With numerous patents and publications to his name, John has dedicated his career to pioneering green chemistry practices that mimic nature’s processes, reducing their environmental impact and promoting human health.

New Observe Wonder Think format for 2024-25. This year we are focusing on K-12 teacher peer collaboration. You are our best resource. There will be space for teachers to bring the resources, labs, lessons, articles that they are seeking to implement. What are the things you are learning as you implement? What challenges are you facing as you implement green chemistry in your classroom and lab? What has really worked well for you? Are there elements of your lessons/labs that you really need help with before implementation? Come and talk with your K-12 peers in the Green Chemistry Community of Practice. We are here to support, accompany, encourage and learn together. We will have speakers periodically to share what has worked in their classrooms, or to share lab safety tips. Register to attend. Only speaker sessions will be recorded, included with registration.

Esther Hines, retired chemistry teacher, ACS mentor and coach, adjunct chemistry faculty, will facilitate Observe Wonder Think monthly, third Thursdays, at alternating evening times.

Join IUPAC CHEMRAWN and Beyond Benign in a webinar featuring Thomas Freese (University of Groningen, Netherlands) to discuss sustainable laboratory practices. In this event, guidelines and hands-on advice on how to make your laboratory greener at research institutions and industry will be presented, as well as examples of achieving systemic change for a sustainable future. If you have any questions in advance for Thomas, feel free to add them in below! We are looking forward to seeing you there!

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From the Lab Safety Institute:

Join our webinar on September 27th at 11:00 AM EST to explore the latest TSCA regulations on methylene chloride and their impact on lab practices. Learn practical strategies for substituting methylene chloride in research and school labs and discover effective methods for finding safer, green chemistry alternatives with our expert partners, Beyond Benign.

More about the Lab Safety Initiative's Methylene Chloride Webinar Series:

This webinar series will focus on actionable steps to comply with the EPA TSCA final rule on methylene chloride. Walking through the hierarchy of controls, each installment will focus on a hazard control method (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative, PPE) applicable to laboratory handling of this common reagent.

The webinar series will help participants:

• Meet the EPA TSCA regulatory requirements
• Provide guidance on selecting safer alternatives to methylene chloride
• Update processes to promote safety and minimize exposure by developing exposure control plans (ECPs)
• Offer practical strategies for managing exposure, implementing safety controls, and maintaining compliance documentation

Designed for anyone in academia or industry who uses methylene chloride, this webinar series offers essential strategies to navigate new regulatory landscapes and enhance laboratory safety culture.

Lab sustainability is increasingly at the forefront of decision making in science centres around the world, as evidenced by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Sustainable Labs report and the high level of interest in the RSC Sustainable Lab grants. 

In this hour-long, interactive webinar you will hear from recipients of the first round of the RSC Sustainable Labs grant whose projects seek to answer questions in topics areas including solvent choices and reuse of single use plastics. You will hear about the problems they’re trying to solve and how findings from their initial results can be actioned. By joining this webinar, you will learn how chemical scientists are looking to solve challenges faced when making more sustainable choices in the lab. You will also hear perspectives on the broader challenges in sustainable labs and efforts by the wider research community – including major funders – to drive more sustainable laboratory practices. 

The webinar will provide useful and actionable information as well as highlighting the opportunity to apply for the second round of RSC Sustainable Laboratories grants. 

The RSC will send a certificate of attendance to everyone who joins us live for the event. Please make sure you register using exactly the name you want on the certificate.

Note: this webinar will run from 3 - 4 pm British Standard Time (10 - 11 am Eastern Time).
 

Join us in the GCTLC forums for an exciting “Ask Me Anything” interview with Dr. John Warner - with you as the interviewers! From Sept. 3 to Sept. 6, post any questions for Dr. Warner in our dedicated forum space (launching soon, link will be added here when available). Dr. Warner will be on hand during this period to answer your questions (time permitting!) – we do hope you will participate. 

Find the AMA in the forums here: https://gctlc.org/forum/ama-dr-john-warner.

From biomimicry to toxicology, green chemistry offers powerful solutions to some of the world’s most pressing crises. This year, we want to zero-in on the powerfully adaptable principles of green chemistry, and their role in forming connections between educators, industry, and advocates.

How? This year's speakers are a host of change makers from diverse professions— each working to apply green chemistry in unique and inventive ways. K-12 educators, higher education faculty, industry professionals, advocates, and all are welcome to join these interactive, monthly conversations.

In order to accommodate a growing global community, we are approaching connections differently this year. Still on the third Wednesday of the month, we will be rotating through three alternating times. Can't make it to a webinar, or need a reminder? Don't stress! When you register, you will have access to recordings, calendar invites, and reminders-- all sent directly to your inbox.

Please feel free to share these webinars with friends and colleagues of all disciplines and backgrounds. We know the true power of our green chemistry community is how we connect with the world— so, come connect with us!

September 2024 Webinar

Introducing our 2024-2025 Connections Organizers and Ambassadors, with Guest Speaker Dr. John Warner!

September 18th, 2024 | 12:00 - 2:00 PM EDT | Register here (LINK TBD)

Join us this September to kick off the 2024-2025 Green Chemistry Connections webinar series! At this session, you will hear from the team working to bring together this international community, attend a talk from Dr. John Warner, and of course enjoy networking in the breakout rooms with your fellow green chemistry and sustainability community members. Read more about our amazing team of organizers and ambassadors on our people page, linked here.