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Join Beyond Benign Senior Program Manager Dr. Juliana Vidal at the 10th EuChemS Chemistry Congress in Antwerp, Belgium, for a presentation on how the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) program is driving systemic change in chemistry education. 👋🌱
 

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Attend Juliana’s presentation at 11 a.m. CEST on July 13th:

Cultivating Responsible Chemists: The Green Chemistry Commitment as a Catalyst for Educational Systemic Change
 

Juliana’s presentation, “The Green Chemistry Commitment as a Catalyst for Educational Systemic Change,” will highlight the Green Chemistry Commitment as a framework that supports institutions in integrating green chemistry across the curriculum, research, and training. She will explore how chemistry education prepares students to design safer, more sustainable products and processes while advancing a culture of responsible chemistry. The presentation is part of the session “Responsible Chemistry for Society: Education, Ethics, History & Cultural Heritage.

About the 10th EuChemS Chemistry Congress:

The 10th EuChemS Chemistry Congress will take place from July 12th-16th, 2026, at the Flanders Meeting & Convention Center, Antwerp. Hosted by the Royal Flemish Chemical Society (KVCV), the congress brings together chemists from Europe and around the world for plenary talks, invited lectures, oral presentations, and poster sessions. Learn more and register. 

Join the chemistry education community at the 29th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE), July 26th-30th, 2026, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This national gathering offers educators, researchers, students, and practitioners opportunities to connect through symposia, workshops, poster sessions, exhibits, and formal and informal conversations focused on chemistry teaching and learning.

If you are attending, don’t miss green chemistry presentations and chances to connect with the Beyond Benign team and community. Our presentation schedule will be shared soon!

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Our global community is transforming chemistry education for a sustainable future. This week, let’s share how and why we’re putting green chemistry into action! 📢

From June 10th to the 14th, in conjunction with our Green Chemistry Commitment Summit, we invite you to join our #GreenChemInAction campaign on social media by sharing specific actions you take to advance green chemistry. This campaign highlights contributions from educators, students, and industry professionals worldwide and encourages more changemakers to participate. We encourage everyone to get involved by posting about their green chemistry leadership and inviting colleagues, students, friends, and collaborators to participate. Read the steps below and invite colleagues, students, and friends to join you!
 

How to participate:

✅ Step 1: Download our #GreenChemInAction sign.
Access the sign here. You can print it, save it digitally, or create your own version.

✅ Step 2: On your sign, write how you’re advancing green chemistry.
Your commitments might include teaching, research, institutional change, or personal practice. Every action, big or small, helps build a sustainable future.

✅ Step 3: Take a photo or video holding your #GreenChemInAction sign.
We’re excited to see how community members are driving green chemistry!

✅ Step 4: Post your photo or video on social media, tag Beyond Benign, and use the hashtag #GreenChemInAction so we can amplify your efforts and inspire others. 
Your post will help spread the word and motivate more people to get involved. We’re on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky. If you’re not on social media (or if you want to have double the fun!), you can share your photo in this Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) forum!

Our popular Promoting Chemistry Applied to World Needs webinar series, hosted in collaboration with IUPAC CHEMRAWN, is back for its second year! Each webinar features experts who connect chemistry to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and IUPAC’s Top 10 Emerging Technologies.

Join us on April 9th at 10 a.m. EDT for the first session of 2026! In this session, Professor Chris Slootweg of the University of Amsterdam will introduce circular chemistry as a framework for redesigning chemical production around reuse, recovery, and the conservation of critical raw materials. Through examples such as phosphate recycling, safer and more sustainable phosphate flame retardants, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers for large-scale hydrogen transport, Chris will demonstrate how chemistry can serve as a practical tool for addressing waste, resource depletion, and the demands of the energy transition.

Register for the series and meet us online on April 9th. You’ll receive the Zoom link and access to the full series upon registration.

Want to learn more about the new NSF-funded Green Chemistry Professional Mentoring Networks (PMNs) program? Thinking of applying but not sure if it's right for you? Hear from members of the Beyond Benign team as they share general information and answer questions about the program, including:

• The overarching program goals, duration and scope
• Eligibility criteria
• Benefits to participation
• Application guidelines, review criteria and requirements

Time at the end will be reserved for questions and discussion from attendees. The Zoom details are provided below, and the webinar is free and open to anyone to attend. Please note that this new NSF-funded program is limited to U.S.-based participants only. 

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Topic: Open Information Session - Green Chemistry Professional Mentoring Networks (PMNs)

Time: Mar 17, 2026 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81728594862?pwd=teiEcYRrkzlXlVfMOxlwn4OqXejdGZ.1 

Meeting ID: 817 2859 4862

Passcode: 276740

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The #RSCPoster conference is a free, 24-hour global online event hosted on LinkedIn. It brings together chemists from different disciplines and career stages to share research, connect with peers worldwide, and engage in scientific discussions. You can share posters on other platforms to expand the conversation, but be sure to post on LinkedIn so you are eligible for prizes!

Beyond Benign Senior Program Manager, Dr. Juliana Vidal is the subject chair of a brand new dedicated sustainability category (#RSCSustainability) for posters focused on sustainable science. (👏!) If your research centers on sustainability topics, we encourage you to submit your poster to showcase innovations advancing greener technologies, responsible resource use, and a more sustainable future. 

Now in its 37th year, the Bioneers Conference convenes activists, scientists, educators, artists, Indigenous leaders, and community organizers to share solutions and foster connections across social and environmental movements. Bioneers 2026 will offer main-stage talks, performances, in-depth discussions, hands-on workshops, an Indigenous Forum, youth programs, and collaborative opportunities over three days in Berkeley, California.

Each conference day includes a morning plenary at Zellerbach Hall beginning at 9 a.m., followed by afternoon and evening panels, interactive sessions, films, performances, and networking events at various downtown Berkeley venues.

If you are attending, don’t miss presentations from Beyond Benign Co-Founders Dr. John Warner and Dr. Amy Cannon on Saturday, March 28th: 

• Keynote: Dr. John Warner – “Biomimicry at the Molecular Level—Inventing a Sustainable Future” (March 28th, 9:40–10:02 a.m., Zellerbach Hall)  | In this talk, John will share his vision of how we can draw from the molecular design genius of nature, which has been running countless rigorous chemistry experiments for nearly 4 billion years, to create benign products and technologies that provide for human needs without contaminating the biosphere and endangering our health.
• Panel: Green Chemistry Innovation and Education featuring Dr. John Warner and Dr. Amy Cannon (March 28th, 4:45–6 p.m.) | Our educational systems need to be transformed to prepare chemists and scientists to design more sustainable products. In this panel, John and Amy will share their work on key initiatives, such as the Green Chemistry Commitment, which equips universities to integrate green chemistry across curricula, research, and training. These initiatives and more are enabling a new generation of scientists to create breakthrough technologies that will enable a more sustainable, circular, and regenerative economy and society. 

🐢 Learn more and register! 

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

Mark your calendar for the upcoming Ask Me Anything (AMA) interview with Dr. Elizabeth Braun, Director of Educational Content and Learning at the Lab Safety Institute. From January 27th to 30th, Elizabeth will answer questions from the community and share her expertise in the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) forums!

At the Lab Safety Institute, Elizabeth collaborates with educators, administrators, and district leaders to strengthen safety culture and promote green chemistry across STEM classrooms. She focuses on systems-level improvement—supporting schools as they rethink chemical management, instructional practices, and professional learning to align safety and sustainability. Her work bridges policy, pedagogy, and practice to make safer science accessible to every learning environment.

💬 This is a conversation you won’t want to miss! Get your questions ready and meet us in the forums. 

PS: If you missed previous AMA interviews or want to revisit the insights shared, you can explore them here.

Although significant efforts have been made to reduce the environmental impact of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production, the use of organic solvents—responsible for about 75% of the total energy consumption—remains a critical step in many processes. Solvent-free synthesis through mechanochemistry aligns with several of the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, offering a more environmentally responsible alternative for chemical synthesis. 

Join us for a free webinar on December 9th from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST to hear from Dr. Evelina Colacino, Associate Professor at the University of Montpellier, who will discuss the application of mechanochemical methods to the preparation of World Health Organization essential medicines at various scales. Using green chemistry metrics, we evaluate the environmental and economic benefits of mechanochemistry, demonstrating its potential to advance greener and more sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing. 

🌎 This webinar is part of the “Promoting Chemistry Applied to World Needs” series, hosted by Beyond Benign and the IUPAC Committee on Chemical Research Applied to World Needs (CHEMRAWN). If you haven’t yet registered for this series, sign up here.