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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: 
 

Juliana’s presentation, “Cultivating Responsible Chemists: 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. 

Members of the Beyond Benign team and community will be at the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE)! If you are attending the conference at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, visit us at booth 29 in the Expo and join us for green chemistry programming. Here’s our schedule:

Sunday, July 26

Building Skills for the Future: A Workshop on Integrating Green and Sustainable Chemistry into Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories

Organized by Dr. Jonathon Moir (Beyond Benign), Dr. David Laviska (ACS Green Chemistry Institute), Dr. Jane Wissinger (University of Minnesota), and Dr. John De Backere (University of Toronto)

This workshop engages educators in integrating green chemistry as a framework for teaching fundamental chemical concepts through a lens of sustainability, while emphasizing peer-to-peer learning and mentorship within communities of practice. Participants will explore approaches to developing modern laboratory curricula that reflect current industrial practices, guided by experienced facilitators. 

🗓️  Sunday, July 26 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. and 3:30–5 p.m.

📍  Chemistry: 1357/1359

Monday, July 27

From Ideation to Assessing Impact: The Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) as a Global Community of Practice

Presented by Dr. Jonathon Moir (Beyond Benign); co-authored by Tyler Schisler, Dr. Sarah Kennedy, Dr. Alisha Szozda, Dr. Omar Villanueva, and Dr. Amy Cannon (Beyond Benign)

This presentation will describe the overall lifespan and development of the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) to date, from initial ideation in 2020 and collaborative development of the various components of the site to the current state of the platform and its future growth and trajectory. Such an overview can inform conference attendees of the opportunities and pitfalls of starting an online platform to support a global Community of Practice (CoP), highlight how assessment of impact reveals community member interests and can help adjust course, and, importantly, reveal the impact that the GCTLC as a CoP has already had on its members and the community at large.

🗓️  Monday, July 27 | 11:15–11:35 a.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 2535

An Easy-to-Use Template for Creating Custom Case Studies Focused on Green Chemistry and Sustainability

Presented by Dr. Jennifer Tripp (University of San Francisco) and Dr. Tom Umile (Villanova University); co-authored by Dr. Monica Hensley (Beyond Benign), Dr. David Laviska (ACS Green Chemistry Institute), and Dr. Amy Cannon (Beyond Benign)

This poster presents a versatile template that guides instructors in building their own effective case studies for classroom use—helping them select a suitable real-world example, identify connections to green and sustainable chemistry, write effective learning objectives, and create course materials, including activities, slides, and assessments. The template allows instructors to create a complete curriculum package that can be shared with others, leading to broader impact across the chemistry educator community.

🗓️  Monday, July 27  | 2-3:30 p.m. (interactive) and 5:30–8:30 p.m. (open viewing)

📍  Main Lounge

Advancing Green Chemistry in Higher Education Through the GCC Program

Presented by Dr. Michelle Duarte (Beyond Benign); co-authored by Dr. Juliana Vidal, Dr. Omar Villanueva, and Dr. Amy Cannon (Beyond Benign)

Beyond Benign’s Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) program supports institutions with tools to integrate green chemistry into higher education, promote systemic, long-lasting change, and foster a global community of practice. To date, the GCC accounts for over 270 institutions across more than 37 countries, impacting 1.6+ million students annually. This poster presents results from the 2025 annual audit and survey, highlighting how the program's resources, community, and guidance facilitate institutional integration of green chemistry, with comparisons to previous data illustrating long-term impact and evolving adoption strategies.

🗓️  Monday, July 27 | 5:30–8:30 p.m. (open viewing)

📍  Main Lounge

Development and Implementation of an On-Demand Introductory Course to Infuse Green Chemistry in the Undergraduate Curriculum

Presented by Dr. Deborah Bromfield Lee (Florida Southern College); co-authored by Dr. Monica Hensley (Beyond Benign)

This presentation outlines the development and implementation of an on-demand introductory course in green chemistry for Beyond Benign, structured into four comprehensive parts and hosted on the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC). The course design draws on current literature, peer collaboration, community feedback, and alignment with educational standards—equipping faculty to educate undergraduate students with the knowledge and skills to apply green chemistry principles and promote sustainability and environmental stewardship in the chemical sciences.

🗓️  Monday, July 27 | 4:15– 4:35 p.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 1800 (within S45c)

Examining the Integration of Cosmetic Chemistry Into the Chemistry Curriculum

Presented by Natalie Gil-Arcos (Monmouth University); co-authored by Dr. Monica Hensley (Beyond Benign) and Dr. Nikita Burrows (Monmouth University);

This research presents a systematic literature review of 60 peer-reviewed academic articles on cosmetic chemistry education published since 1939. The focus of this review is to establish how cosmetic chemistry topics are being integrated into chemistry classrooms and labs to understand how applied-chemistry courses can impact students’ learning and motivations toward chemistry and its ability to foster awareness of potential careers within the discipline. The findings of this literature review can serve as a useful guide for chemistry instructors and education researchers, as it underscores the value of integrating applied chemistry experiments and courses to connect fundamental concepts of industry, green chemistry, and real-world applications to the classroom.

🗓️  Monday, July 27 | 5:30– 8:30 p.m.

📍  Main Lounge (open viewing)

Tuesday, July 28

Case Studies of Green Chemistry in the Classroom

Chaired by Esther Hines (Billerica Memorial High School, retired) and Dr. Jennifer Tripp (University of San Francisco); organized with Dr. Tom Umile (Villanova University), Dr. David Laviska (ACS Green Chemistry Institute), and Dr. Monica Hensley (Beyond Benign).

This session highlights the diverse ways chemical educators at all levels have employed case study-based lessons in their classrooms—from high school through graduate level—and includes a moderated discussion to foster networking, sharing of ideas and course materials, and community building. The American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute and Beyond Benign recently co-developed a case study template and guide to assist instructors in developing their own case study-based lessons.

🗓️  Tuesday, July 28 | 8:30–10 a.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 1800

Understanding Chemistry as both the Problem and Solution to Human and Environmental Health Challenges through the Implementation of Case Studies in a Green Chemistry Course

Presented by Dr. Amy Cannon (Beyond Benign)

This presentation shares how case studies were used in a green chemistry course to provide context and understanding of the challenges and opportunities our field faces. Case studies highlighting U.S. Superfund sites bridged historical impacts of the chemical industry to concepts such as toxicology, epidemiology, and greener chemical design. Toxicology case studies taught key concepts and provided students with tools for greener chemical design, equipping them to contribute to a future in which chemistry addresses environmental and human health challenges without repeating past mistakes.

🗓️  Tuesday, July 28 | 8:35–8:55 a.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 1800 (within S158a)

Bridging Academia and Industry: Defining Green and Sustainable Chemistry Skills for the Future Workforce

Moderated by Dr. Amy Cannon (Beyond Benign), featuring Jeffrey Whitford (MilliporeSigma), Dr. Victor Ramos Sanchez (Northern Arizona University), and Dr. Mary Carroll (Union College) 

This community conversation brings together academics and industry professionals to define the green and sustainable chemistry competencies that matter most for the future workforce. Co-organized with MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, the session explores how institutions can better align chemistry education with real-world industry needs—ensuring graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills to advance sustainable chemistry in professional settings.

🗓️  Tuesday, July 28 | 6-7 p.m.

📍  Memorial Union: Play Circle (2190)

Advances in Research and Practice on Sustainability in the Lab

Organized by Dr. Nikita Burrows (Monmouth University), Dr. Mary Ross (Georgia Gwinnett College), and Dr. Monica Hensley (Beyond Benign)

This symposium highlights current research and innovative practices in sustainable laboratory chemistry. Presentations explore how educators and researchers are implementing greener approaches in teaching and research labs across a range of institutional contexts.

🗓️  Tuesday, July 28 | 3:30–5 p.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 1800

Green Chemistry Education for a Sustainable Future: Sharing Ideas and Building Community

Chaired by Cecilia Smith (ACS Green Chemistry Institute) and Dr. Omar Villanueva (Beyond Benign)

A lightly facilitated conversation for attendees interested in advancing green chemistry education in their courses, programs, and institutions. Co-hosted by Beyond Benign and the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute, the session will create space to share specific resource examples—from small changes in a single lab or lesson to broader program-level efforts—and to learn from what others are trying in different contexts.

🗓️  Tuesday, July 28 | 7–8 p.m.

📍  Memorial Union: Profile (2318)
 

Wednesday, July 29

Advances in Research and Practice on Sustainability in the Lab (continued)

Organized by Dr. Nikita Burrows (Monmouth University), Dr. Mary Ross (Georgia Gwinnett College), and Dr. Monica Hensley (Beyond Benign)

This symposium invites qualitative and quantitative research, as well as teaching-focused contributions, centered on undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses with a focus on green chemistry and sustainability, systems thinking, and safety. In alignment with the updated American Chemical Society Guidelines, the session welcomes studies on lab curriculum and experiment design, instructional strategies at the bench, and student engagement.

🗓️  Wednesday, July 29 | 8:30–10 a.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 1800

Writing Green Chemistry Case Studies

Organized by Dr. Jennifer Tripp (University of San Francisco), Dr. Tom Umile (Villanova University), Dr. Monica Hensley (Beyond Benign), and Dr. David Laviska (ACS Green Chemistry Institute)

In this interactive workshop, educators will collaboratively work through a versatile Case Study Template to begin building their own case study for classroom use. Participants will also learn how to share case studies through the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) to build a broader community of practice. Bring a laptop or another device for writing and online searching!

🗓️  Wednesday, July 29 | 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

📍  Chemistry: 2401

Green Chemistry Education for a Sustainable Future

Presented by Dr. Monica Hensley; coauthored with Dr. Omar Villanueva and Dr. Amy Cannon (Beyond Benign)

Beyond Benign has developed a comprehensive, faculty-driven model to support the integration of green chemistry into undergraduate curricula. Through the creation of open-access curricular resources, developed in collaboration with higher education faculty and informed by industry expertise, combined with targeted professional development programs, Beyond Benign empowers educators to embed sustainability meaningfully into chemistry education.

🗓️  Wednesday, July 29 | 11:35–11:55 a.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 1800 (Symposium presented in: Educating for Sustainability in a Climate-Challenged World)

Thursday, July 30

Sustainability in Practice: Institutional Approaches to Advancing Green Chemistry Education

Chaired by Dr. Omar Villanueva (S337a) and Dr. Michelle Duarte (S337b) (Beyond Benign); co-organized with Dr. Loyd Bastin (Widener University)

As demand for sustainable chemical solutions continues to grow and new accreditation guidelines emerge, higher-education institutions worldwide are seeking effective ways to integrate green chemistry principles into their teaching, research, and departmental practices. This symposium invites faculty and educators to share strategies for driving systemic and institutional change through curriculum design, laboratory transformation, and research-led teaching. 

🗓️  Thursday, July 30 | 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 1800

Green Chemistry for Non-Science Majors: Development and Implementation of a Physical Science Course

Presented by Dr. Omar Villanueva (Beyond Benign) and co-authored by Dr. Cynthia Woodbridge (Georgia Gwinnett College)

This presentation highlights the design, development, and implementation of a fully online, asynchronous Physical Science course at Georgia Gwinnett College centered on green chemistry for non-science majors. The course reframes core topics—atomic structure, chemical reactions, energy, materials, and environmental systems—through the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and systems thinking, helping students connect chemistry to real-world decisions and societal challenges. 

🗓️  Thursday, July 30 | 10:35–10:55 a.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 1800 (within S337b)

Supporting Institutional Approaches for Advancing Green Chemistry Education in Brazil Through Beyond Benign’s Green Chemistry Commitment Program

Presented by Dr. Juliana Vidal (Beyond Benign); co-authored by Dr. Michelle Duarte, Dr. Omar Villanueva, and Dr. Amy Cannon (Beyond Benign)

This presentation highlights how the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) program is supporting Brazil's growing network of GCC signers (now 22 institutions, the third-largest globally). It explores how regional collaboration, understanding local needs and misconceptions, and international network support can move green chemistry adoption from isolated efforts to a unifying, transferable framework.

🗓️  Thursday, July 30 | 8:35 – 8:55 a.m.

📍  Engineering Hall 1800 (within S337a)

Find more green chemistry and sustainability programming here.

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.