Faculty or University Instructors

In June 2023 AASHE piloted the first Sustainability Education Forum. Over 140 registrants from 13 countries across five continents came together to discuss and listen about the challenges and opportunities for sustainability education. Attendees felt that the event facilitated “inspiring, engaging, and meaningful discussions,” provided “a very holistic way of structuring learning and sharing,” and fostered “an inspirational sense of community.” Read more about the 2023 event in this article and these testimonials.

We’d like to build upon that experience and invite you to join the Sustainability Education Forum 2024 on June 6 & 7! Let’s come together, share our expertise and co-create our emerging future. What and how do we teach students given the urgency of the times? How do we “fall-forward” on issues related to sustainability teaching and learning in higher education? Let’s use this opportunity to listen and speak about the issues that matter to interdisciplinary sustainability educators.
 

Are higher education institutions simply reverting to how things were done pre-pandemic or can we use this opportunity to truly redesign systems? New and different voices need to be heard and conversations need to catalyze actionable change. On June 6 and 7, let’s talk with each other, think with each other and respectfully challenge each other’s ideas in order to advance sustainability education across the curriculum.

The Sustainability Education Forum (SEF) will provide space to explore these possibilities and more. Per the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a forum is “a public meeting place for open discussion” and this is what the SEF offers – a space for authentic conversations, where we can engage as a community and with each other. Throughout the SEF, you will have plenty of chances to exchange ideas and make new professional connections, while gaining inspiration and an opportunity to recharge your own efforts. 

Intended Audience
 

This is the event to attend if you’re:

• a faculty in any discipline who is engaged with sustainability education
• interested in or just starting incorporating sustainability literacy in your courses
• considering building a sustainability curriculum development program at your institution
• new or a veteran at building sustainability across the curriculum programs
• involved with sustainability-degree programs
• a sustainability staff who is involved with curriculum initiatives
• an instructional designer supporting faculty incorporating sustainability in their courses
• anyone interested in sustainability education and research at higher education institutions.

At this event, you will connect with others who approach their work with the same sense of urgency that you do. It is these types of connections that serve us throughout the years; they make the hard times manageable and the good times fun. Join us and let’s make some good times — together!

Event Dates: The SEF will take place on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7 spanning multiple timezones. See tentative schedule.

This workshop is focused on equipping faculty across the curricula with best practices for embedding sustainability into their respective courses in a way that is engaging, transformative, and that supports existing course learning objectives. The workshop is based upon lessons learned at The College of Charleston (CofC) in Charleston, SC, where for four years faculty have engaged in a SACSCOC quality enhancement plan reaccreditation project, “Sustainability Literacy as a Bridge to Addressing 21st Century Problems.” This internally funded project is centered upon working with faculty to embed sustainability literacy into existing courses by providing ongoing trainings, workshops, and a year-long faculty cohort who work together on sharing best practices for teaching sustainability in a fall course, and then again in a spring course.

This workshop will present an overview of the project, it’s learning goals and outcomes, and an overview of assessment data (both qualitative and quantitative) from the project. Presenters will then work with those in the audience to:

• locate existing student learning objectives and help transition them to be sustainability focused
• dialogue about ways to present sustainability in an interdisciplinary way that also connects to a home discipline via effective sustainability teaching methods
• brainstorm capacity building opportunities to build faculty coalitions around embedding sustainability throughout the curricula.

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.

This engaging workshop will introduce educators to national laboratory research in bioenergy. Participants will explore how the Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge (BRIDGES) Program, a case study-based bioenergy education curriculum, can be effectively incorporated into the classroom and help to educate students on this clean energy STEM pathway.

The case study-based bioenergy education curriculum is intended to be taught in diverse settings including community colleges, technical colleges, universities, and upper-level high school classrooms. Created by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory, BRIDGES provides background and foundational materials for students and instructors with no prior bioenergy knowledge.

Join us for three exciting days of information, exploration, expert talks, and tours of Argonne National Laboratory! New this year: A sneak peek into the next two case studies coming down the pike!

• This workshop is open to adjunct and full-time community college, technical college and university instructors. If space allows, upper-level high school teachers may also apply.
• If located greater than 50 miles from Argonne, participants may be eligible for U.S. domestic travel reimbursement (e.g. mileage, hotel, air).

• Applications are due no later than March 20, 2024. There is no fee for this workshop, however space is limited.

Thrust Areas

Green Chemistry

Nanomaterials & Nano Chemistry

Computational Chemistry

Supramolecular Chemistry

Atmospheric Chemistry

Photocatalysis

Sustainable Cement Production

Organic Synthesis and catalysis

Chemical Biology

Biodegradable Plastics & Polymer Composites

Bio-catalysis & Biomaterials

Biosensors

Biofuels & Biorefining

Computational Modelling and AI in Drug Development

Toxicology & Narcotics

Natural Products and Phytochemicals

Groundwater and Wastewater Remediation

Water Quality and Research

Air quality Monitoring

Agrochemicals & Agro-contaminants

Bioremediation

Green Building Materials

Photovoltaics and Supercapacitors

Environmental Education and Awareness

Hydrogen Energy

Efficient Energy Materials

Nanoelectronics and Battery Research

Sensor and Electrochemical Sensing

Drinking and waste Water chemistry and related Technology

Electrocatalysis

Nano Emulsions, Coatings & Adhesives

Alternative Energy Resources

Sustainable Energy Policies

Drug Designing & Pharmacology

Drug Development and Formulations

Process Development

Sustainable Production & Management in Industries

Advances towards Net Zero

Rain Water Harvesting

Air Quality Monitoring

Symposium:

The GCI is a student organization focused on raising awareness and promoting green chemistry practices within the chemistry community. In partnership with McGill University, we are currently organizing our 9th annual GCI Symposium, “Making Greener Choices: A more sustainable approach to chemistry”, that aims to encourage students to implement more sustainable practices in their research, teaching and careers. 

Our events are designed to connect students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty members interested in Green Chemistry with current leaders in the field to discuss advances in chemical processes and the future of sustainable research practices.  This year we will be featuring speakers from academia and industry, as well as a student-led panel discussion and a workshop with ACS Green Chemistry Institute. 

Posters:

We will also be hosting a poster session which we encourage your students to submit an abstract for. Abstracts are limited to 200 characters. The inclusion or mention of Green Chemistry elements or aspects is not a prerequisite for the submission of poster abstracts. However, all presenters are invited to look for opportunities to talk about Green Chemistry within the context of their research. Posters from previous conferences are welcome!  

Travel Scholarships:

We are offering travel scholarships to contribute towards the commute and accommodation expenses. The amount awarded will depend on the total estimated expenditure of each attendee.

Speaker Lineup:

Additional Information:

Please consider submitting and abstract for this symposium that I am co-organizing at BCCE entitled "Low Barrier Professional Development".

We have all said, “I don’t have time or funding for that!”. Well, in this symposium, we hear you and we want to share ideas together about low-cost and low-time investment professional development opportunities. Do you have your own professional development journey and/or ways that you have created or taken opportunities to grow your professional self? Low barrier professional development examples include participation in teaching squares, engaging in a community of practice, book clubs, utilizing mid-course evaluations, and volunteering or leading service committees.  

ICCE is a global platform for educators, teachers, chemists, and scientists around the world to bring chemical education closer to sustainable prosperity and pave the way to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Specifically, the objectives are:
1) To provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas related to chemical education among researchers, educators, students, and other stakeholders from around the world.
2) To facilitate collaboration and networking among individual and institutions involved in chemical education, with the aim of fostering partnerships and joint initiatives that can improve the quality and accessibility of chemical education globally.
3) To contribute to the achievement of the UN SDGs by promoting the role of chemistry education in addressing global challenges such as climate change and inequality.

The program is designed to discuss the role of chemistry education not only in classroom setting but also in societal context. Novel teaching and learning methods in chemistry are still the key topics in this conference. Professional development of educators at all levels (school and university) will be included. Societal context of chemistry education such as sustainability, ethics, diversity, equity, and inclusion will also be emphasized in this conference.

The program will include nine sessions:
1) Chemistry Education in Informal Setting and Life-long Learning Context
2) Redesigning Chemistry Laboratory Teaching
3) Innovative technology for chemistry education
4) Systems thinking in Chemistry Education
5) Chemistry and Science Teacher Education and Continuous Professional Development
6) Chemistry Education for Environmental and Social Sustainability
7) Policy, Reform, and Quality Assurance in Chemistry Education
8) Ethics, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Chemistry Education
9) Emerging Educational Trends in Chemistry in the 21st Century

ICCE 2024 will also include the 12th International Symposium on Microscale Chemistry.

The Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference is focused on inter- and transdisciplinary aspects of green and sustainable chemistry. Contributions clearly demonstrating a link to green and/ or sustainable chemistry within the conference topics are invited.

Please see detailed guidelines for submission here.

This conference is organised by Elsevier in association with Leuphana University of Luneberg and ISC3

• Interact with high-level speakers: including government representatives and leading researchers from industry and academia.

• Gain a global perspective: coverage includes experience from the developed world and insight from developing countries.

• Understand industry viewpoints: experts and thought-leaders from top chemical companies and organisations explore how industry can better demonstrate the value of ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ across its value chains and to end consumers.

• Present your latest research: Share your research as a short talk or in our lively poster sessions

• Grow your professional network

• Find out about the most environmentally sustainable innovations: hear from the winners of the Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge.

• Spreading sustainable chemistry worldwide: Share your experiences in research, teaching and good practice.

Beyond Benign is excited to invite all educators, students, and staff from higher education institutions to a Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) Info Session on April 24, 2024. At this special event, you’ll have the opportunity to delve into the transformation of chemistry education with the renowned co-founder of green chemistry, Dr. John Warner.

Who: Higher education faculty, students, staff, and their peers (GCC signer status not required!)
What: A virtual meeting in which attendees will learn from one of the world’s foremost green chemistry leaders about green chemistry’s trajectory in higher education and strategies for implementation and communication.
When: April 24th, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (EST)
Where: Online (meeting details to be sent after registration)

Why Green Chemistry Education Now:

Green chemistry offers educators and students the chance to practice chemistry in ways that benefit society and the planet, but transitioning to these methodologies can be challenging. Join us in this GCC Info Session to connect with peers, explore strategies for integrating green chemistry at your institution, and contribute to a global movement toward molecular and sustainable chemical design. Shape the future of chemistry education and innovation with us.

Meet Dr. John Warner:

Dr. John Warner co-founded the field of green chemistry and Beyond Benign. With a distinguished career spanning academia and industry, John is renowned for his trailblazing work in creating sustainable solutions inspired by nature. His contributions to green chemistry, including the co-authorship of its defining principles, have earned him widespread recognition and prestigious awards.

U.S. Institutions, Join Us in Our 25×25 Initiative:

Beyond Benign aims to ensure that 25% of graduating chemists in the United States have a background in green chemistry by 2025, and the involvement of our U.S. community is vital to reaching this target. Join us at this GCC Info Session to discover how you can contribute to transforming chemistry education and expanding access to green chemistry resources for all students and institutions. (Non-U.S. institutions are still encouraged to join us!)

About the Green Chemistry Commitment:

The Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) serves as a unifying framework for the higher education community, fostering the expansion of green chemists, enhancing departmental resources, facilitating connections to job opportunities, and driving systemic and enduring change in chemistry education. Learn more here.