Introductory Undergraduate Students

Are you an aspiring chemist, a passionate climate advocate, or an interested member of the public? Do you want to change the world through science? Join the IUPAC CHEMRAWN and Beyond Benign throughout 2025 to learn from experts in the field who are leading the charge to solve existential, world needs through chemistry. Speakers will orient their presentations around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), as well as the IUPAC Top 10 Emerging Technologies, to demonstrate the power that chemists hold in shaping, and preserving, the future. 

Each talk will be accompanied by  2-3 minute videos on the topic, for chemistry students in high school, university, and for the general public.

January Webinar 

“From Detoxifying Chemical Warfare Agents to Treating Nuclear Wastewater: Adventures in the Synthesis of Metal–Organic Frameworks” 

Ashlee Howarth, Concordia University

01/24/2025 | 9:00 – 10:00 AM EST

Webinar Description:

Named by IUPAC as one of the “Top 10 Emerging Technologies in Chemistry” in 2019, what can metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) really do? IUPAC CHEMRAWN Committee and Beyond Benign invite you to learn more about MOFs and join the discussion with Prof. Ashlee Howarth from Concordia University! Prof. Howarth is dedicated to using green chemistry principles and practices to design and synthesize rare-earth cluster-based MOFs which can then be applied to clean up wastewater from coal and nuclear power plants, as well as decontaminate military equipment. Other applications investigated by Ashlee also include catalysis, drug delivery, X-ray detection, and chemical sensing applications to solve our current environmental challenges. 

More About Professor Ashlee Howarth:

Ashlee J. Howarth is an Associate Professor and Concordia University Research Chair at Concordia University in Montréal. She was born and raised in London, Ontario. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2009, and then went on to do her PhD in inorganic materials chemistry at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Michael O. Wolf. Before joining the faculty at Concordia, she completed an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at Northwestern University with Joseph T. Hupp and Omar K. Farha. At Concordia, the Howarth group is focused on the design and synthesis of rare-earth cluster-based metal–organic frameworks targeting applications in pollution remediation, catalysis, drug delivery, X-ray detection, and chemical sensing. Ashlee is also the contact point for the Green Chemistry Commitment at Concordia University.

The annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, hosted by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®, is the premier global event for green chemistry and engineering. GC&E attracts scientists, educators, students, industry professionals, and advocates to explore advancements, share best practices, inspire innovation, and build community dedicated to sustainable solutions.   
 

The 2025 conference theme will be Good Health and Well-Being Through Sustainable Chemistry to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.    

GC&E 2025 will showcase innovative research and cross-cutting topics in green and sustainable chemistry and engineering, with an emphasis on symposia that highlight our theme “Good Health and Well-Being”, such as medical breakthroughs, new technologies, and efforts to eliminate or reduce hazardous chemical pollution promoting longer and healthier lives.

There are always many sessions on education topics. Symposia will be released in December and the call for abstracts opens January 3. 

An annual international chemistry conference held in Thailand. This year's theme is, "Chemistry for a Changing World" which seeks to unravel new scientific innovations and discoveries in the field of Chemistry.

We are excited to announce that the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) has created the CIC Green Subject Division. Its objective is to bring together the community of researchers and practitioners of the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC) and Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (CSChE) who identify as contributing to, or having an interest in, green chemistry and chemical engineering.
 
The new Green Subject Division will:

• Organize symposia on green and sustainable chemistry, technology, and chemical engineering at the annual CSC and CSChE conferences. 
• Bolster industrial participation at the annual CSC and CSChE conferences. 
• Provide professional training in green/sustainable practices at the annual CSC and CSChE conferences. 
• Present Canadian Green Chemistry and Engineering Awards. 
• …and further activities that will serve our community.

*Save the date*
The Green Division's inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held by Zoom on Tuesday, Jun.18 at 1 PM ET.

Join Zoom Meeting 
Meeting ID: 850 7250 8961
Passcode: 871250

The AGM can be accessed via the Green Division Webpage.

Positions of leadership are open! At the AGM, we will elect a Division Chair, Division Vice-Chair, and Division Secretary-Treasurer as well as up to six (6) Division Members at Large.  If you or someone you know would be interested, please ask them to communicate with Joelle Pelletier at joelle.pelletier@umontreal.ca. Spread the news to your research group and colleagues!
 
If you will attend CSC 2024 in Winnipeg, we will also be holding an Information Session on Tuesday June 4 from 5:20 to 7:20 (Central Time) in Room 9.  Please drop by, learn more and get involved. All those interested in green and sustainable chemistry, technology and chemical engineering are welcome, including students and postdocs: we invite all to contribute to shaping the new Green Subject Division. 
 
We look forward to working with you to make the CIC Green Subject Division part of our future.
 

NOTE: This course will NOT be offered in 2024. It is undergoing redesign and is planned for relaunch in 2025.

This certificate program provides professionals with new tools for incorporating chemical
toxicity and human health considerations into product design, materials selections and supply chain decision-making. The courses focus on sustainability business models and green chemistry principles to prevent and reduce pollution at the source. Program participants may register for all 3 courses at one time, or register at least 2 weeks before the start of each course. During this 3-course program, you will explore:

• Business drivers and barriers to implementing sustainable practices
• Frameworks for incorporating chemical toxicity and human health considerations into
  product design, material selections, and supply chain decision-making
• The 12 guiding principles of green chemistry
• Environmental, economic, and societal benefits of green chemistry
• Latest research and regulatory developments in the field
• New tools for chemical design and methods for comparative chemical hazard
  assessments 

Courses included are detailed below:

3 required courses:

COURSE I: Sustainability, Toxicology, and Human Health 

September 25, 2023 - December 8, 2023 | Cost: $910 | CEUs: 5

Overview of fundamental principles of toxicology, human health, and material science. Participants will review their own business’ sustainability drivers and barriers while investigating the health and environmental hazards that contribute to human disease.

COURSE II: Principles of Green Chemistry 

January 2, 2024 - March 8, 2024 | Cost: $910 | CEUs: 5

Fundamental principles of green chemistry, including the human and ecological reasons for considering less toxic alternatives and the various green applications to chemical design. overview of new tools and cutting edge research for the design of 21st century chemicals that minimize hazards to health and the environment.

COURSE III: Assessment Tools for Safer Chemical Decisions 

March 25, 2024 - May 31, 2024 | Cost: $910 | CEUs: 5

Decision-making tools and methods used for comparative chemical hazard assessments. Participants will have an opportunity to use these tools through the completion of a culminating project.

More information is available through the following website:

https://oshce.uw.edu/pages/green-chemistry-chemical-stewardship-online-certificate-program

Poor indoor air quality poses a significant threat to human health, with various construction products such as paint, furniture, wood flooring and carpets being potential contributors to unhealthy indoor air. These materials often release harmful chemicals into the environment, posing risks to occupants over an extended period after installation. The resultant health issues are diverse and underscore the multifaceted impact on individuals within built environments.

Addressing these risks necessitates a strategic shift towards the utilization of soy and other bio based building materials, which not only enhance indoor air quality but also align with sustainable practices. Biobased materials offer a myriad of advantages, including a reduced carbon footprint, lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, and improved performance compared to their petrochemical-based counterparts. Beyond their environmental benefits, these renewable and low-toxicity materials actively contribute to meeting compliance standards, such as the International Green Construction Code and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification system.

• Free Lunch and Refreshments: Enjoy complimentary meals during the event.
• Interactive Sessions: Engage in discussions and activities to enhance your understanding.

The Beyond Benign Team is happy to share that our members will be attending the 2024 Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition in Winnipeg! More information including featured talks is forthcoming. We hope to see you there! See the official conference description, sourced from the CSC 2024 website, quoted in part below:

"...Our conference theme, “The Central Science”, is inspired in part by our recognition that Chemistry touches upon all scientific disciplines, and we hope that scientists studying every aspect of chemistry and its applications will gather to share their knowledge and experiences. Appropriately, Winnipeg is situated near the longitudinal centre of Canada and the geographical centre of North America, thus we will draw scholars, industry experts and early career talents from all directions to enjoy this meeting.

We look forward to welcoming you to CSC 2024 next June!"

Professor David Palmer, Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan
Conference Chair

This premier conference is convened by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute to advance green chemistry and engineering through scientific exchange, professional development opportunities, and community networking. The conference starts with a day of workshops on Sunday, June 2 and the GC&E Awards Ceremony Dinner on Sunday night. The technical sessions kick off Monday morning. 

The Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference (GC&E) holds around 42 technical sessions covering a wide variety of research areas and industrial applications. This year, the conference explores the forefront of technology with its theme, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Enabled Green Chemistry.

Chemistry education sessions and workshops are a central part of the conference.

Key Dates:

• Call for Abstracts is open through February 12. 
• Early registration opens February 14 and runs through April 30. 

Beyond Benign Talks:

Teaching Green Chemistry: Systems Thinking, Assessments, and Curricular Design

Use of ChemForward for Chemical hazard evaluation and assessment in academic settings (30 mins) during the Teaching Green Chemistry: Systems Thinking, Assessments, and Curricular Design

8:00am - 5:00opm - June 2, 2024 | Room: Maplewood Room (A&B)

Monica Mame Soma Nyansa, Cynthia Woodbridge

Exploring and championing professional education in Green Chemistry and Toxicology

04:25pm - 04:45pm EDT - June 4, 2024 | Room: Ravinia Ballroom (DEFG) (Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia)
Monica Mame Soma Nyansa, Presenter; Natalie O'Neil; Amy Cannon

Reimagining chemistry education: The green chemistry commitment at Beyond Benign

05:05pm - 07:05pm EDT - June 4, 2024 | Room: Ravinia Ballroom (ABC)

Juliana Vidal, Presenter; Natalie O'Neil; Amy Cannon

Utilizing Drupal and CiviCRM to optimize an open-access database of green chemistry educational materials on the new GCTLC platform

10:15am - 10:35am EDT - June 5, 2024 | Room: Camellia (Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia)

Jonathon Moir, Presenter; Sarah Prescott; Nimrat Obhi; Amy Cannon

Uniting and engaging a diverse, global community of green chemistry educators and practitioners through a virtual open-access platform

10:35am - 10:55am EDT - June 5, 2024 | Room: Camellia (Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia)

Nimrat Obhi, Presenter; Jonathon Moir; Sarah Prescott; Amy Cannon

This is the annual Canadian Society for Chemistry Conference