Open/Entire Community

This webinar will introduce you to three leaders in the field of green chemistry and their stories related to start-ups in this sector: Dr. John Warner, Prof. Philip Jessop, and Prof. Richard Blackburn.

This panel discussion will aim to answer the following questions: 
•    'What are their top two pieces of advice for budding chemistry entrepreneurs?'
•    'What have been the biggest barriers or challenges that they've experienced?'
•    'In their opinion, how can we encourage entrepreneurship, especially in the chemistry community?’

As the landscape of sustainability in higher education continues to evolve, we understand that the changing policies under the new federal administration are impacting campuses across the country. To help our members navigate these changes, and to offer support amidst so much change, AASHE will be hosting a discussion series every Tuesday throughout March. This series will be facilitated by AASHE staff and board leadership, and will offer a space for members to come together, discuss challenges, share insights, and explore how AASHE can best support campuses in these challenging times. While we may not have clear solutions, being in community with sustainability change agents will hopefully create an opportunity for collective processing and exploration of productive responses. 

• When: Tuesdays in March (March 4, 11, 18, 25)
• Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM (EST)
• Format: Informal, member-driven discussions facilitated by AASHE staff & board 
• Location: Virtual via Zoom (link provided upon registration)

This is an opportunity for all AASHE members to connect, share experiences, and gain valuable insights from your peers as we collectively work toward advancing sustainability and climate action in higher education.

Reducing total CO₂ emissions to zero is called #CarbonNeutrality. To achieve this, industrial and energy reforms must be undertaken within the next decade. However, the specific measures are not generally known…

Join us for a special webinar with Junji Nakamura, a Research Professor at the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research, Kyushu University, to explore what the path to carbon neutrality looks like.

🗓️ When: February 6th from 6-7 p.m. EST / February 7th from 8-9 a.m. JST.

🧪 Register: This is the second installment of the webinar series, “Promoting Chemistry Applied to World Needs” presented by Beyond Benign and IUPAC CHEMRAWN. If you haven’t already registered for this free series, RSVP here! 

Weston Roundtable

The Weston Roundtable is made possible by a generous donation from Roy F. Weston, a highly accomplished UW-Madison alumnus. Designed to promote a robust understanding of sustainability science, engineering, and policy, these interactive lectures are co-sponsored by the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Office of Sustainability.

Lectures are held 4:15–5:15 p.m. Thursdays in 1163 Mechanical Engineering. Some lectures will be presented online, which will require registration.

_____________________

Dr. Amy Cannon 

Amy received the world’s first Ph.D. in Green Chemistry. Holding an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Saint Anselm College (1997), Amy sought to use her chemistry degree within the field of sustainability. At the University of Massachusetts Boston, she met Dr. John Warner, who introduced her to green chemistry, a blossoming movement in the late 1990’s. It was there where they created a Ph.D. concentration in Green Chemistry, addressing the education gap in chemistry education – chemists were not being properly prepared with skills to design and create solutions to support the development and implementation of sustainable chemical products. After working in industry (Rohm and Haas, and Gillette Company) and academia (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Amy remained passionate about Green Chemistry education, recognizing the growing need for education systems to change to prepare scientists with Green Chemistry skills to address sustainability through chemistry. In 2007, Amy co-founded, Beyond Benign, a non-profit solely dedicated to advancing Green Chemistry education. Since inception, this organization has been leading Green Chemistry education initiatives in K-12 through higher education, focusing on empowering educators to make transformative change in their teaching and practice.  

Amy has been recognized for her work in research (Kenneth G. Hancock Memorial Award in Green Chemistry in 2004, for titanium dioxide semiconductors and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells) and also for her leadership in driving green chemistry education (2012 EPA New England Environmental Merit award). Beyond Benign’s work has also been recognized through the ACS NERM Partners for Progress and Prosperity (P3) Region Award (2016), and as a semi-finalist in the Buckminster Fuller Challenge (2013).  

Hear directly from Amy: 

• TEDx talk “The Promise of Green Chemistry“, TEDx Amoskeag Millyard, October 19, 2023
• On the central role that chemistry and chemistry education plays in addressing global sustainability challenges: Sustainable Innovation Through Green Chemistry Podcast (Innovation+ Talks hosted by Paul Heller)
• On the power of community to create transformative change in education

Key publications: 

• “A promise to a sustainable future: 10 years of the Green Chemistry Commitment at Beyond Benign“, Green Chemistry, 2024, Advance Article, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4GC00575A
• “Green Chemistry Teacher Professional Development in New York State High Schools: A Model for Advancing Green Chemistry“, J. Chem. Educ., 2023, 100, 6, 2224-2232.
• “Women in Green Chemistry and Engineering: Agents of Change Toward the Achievement of a Sustainable Future”, ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2022, 10, 9, 2859-2865.  
• “Safe and Sustainable Chemistry Activities: Fostering a Culture of Safety in K-12 and Community Outreach Programs”, Cannon, A.S., Keirstead, A.E., Hudson, R., Levy, I.J., MacKellar, J., Enright, M., Anderson, K.R., Howson, E.M., J. Chem. Educ., 2021, 98, 1, 71-77. 
• “A Systems Thinking Department: Fostering a Culture of Green Chemistry Practice among Students”, Dicks, A.P., D’eon, J.C., Morra, B., Chisu, C.K., Quinlan, K.B., Cannon, A.S., J. Chem. Educ., 2019, 96, 12, 2836-2844. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00287] 
• “Models for integrating toxicology concepts into chemistry courses and programs”, Cannon, Amy S., Finster, David, Raynie, Douglas, and Warner, John C., Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews, 10:4, 2017, 436-443. 
• “The Green Chemistry Commitment: Transforming chemistry education in higher education” Cannon, Amy S. and Levy, Irvin J. in The Promise of Chemical Education: Addressing our Students’ Needs, ACS Symposium Series, Vol. 1193, 2015, pp. 115-125.

Join the conversation, live in the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community. Bring questions about all things green chemistry and receive expert answers from Berkley Center for Green Chemistry Executive Director, Dr. Megan Arnett!

With a PhD in neuroscience, Megan is one of many in the Green Chemistry community who comes from an interdisciplinary background. As such, Megan is constantly learning new aspects of green chemistry as the executive director of the Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry at UC Berkeley, where she works directly with industry partners to identify safer alternatives to chemicals in their products or processes. Megan is lead instructor for several green chemistry courses at UC Berkeley, and runs an internship program and research center in collaboration with the USDA Bioproducts Research Institute. 

The University of California, Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry (BCGC) is advancing green chemistry through research, teaching and engagement in the interdisciplinary areas of: New Chemistries, Health and Environment, Policy and Law, and Business and Economics. Investigators in chemistry, the environmental health sciences, public policy, business, and law are developing new science and scholarship that is placing green chemistry, alongside carbon-neutral technologies, as a cornerstone of environmentally sustainable development and the green economy.

Find Dr. Megan Arnett's AMA in the forums here!

Visit the University of California, Berkeley's profile on the Beyond Benign Website.
 

We’re kicking off 2025 with an exciting Green Chemistry Connections session! 🌱

Join us on January 15th from 8–10 a.m. UTC / 7–9 p.m. AEDT to explore nanoscale and nanotechnology for green and sustainable chemistry, alongside the brilliance of biomimicry. These topics showcase how Green Chemistry principles can be applied in innovative ways to solve global challenges. 

Our featured speakers include: 
– Sally Fierenzi, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
– Terry Turney, PhD, Sonic Essentials Pty Ltd & Monash University
(and others!)

↪️ This monthly webinar series is designed for educators, industry professionals, advocates, and anyone passionate about building a sustainable future through green chemistry. Register now to secure your spot and gain access to all events in the series, plus recordings: https://mailchi.mp/beyondbenign/connections?mc_cid=409bfe4d28&mc_eid=da8a16d315

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.

ACS Meetings & Expositions are where chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. By attracting thousands of chemical professionals, the meetings provide excellent opportunities for sharing your passion for chemistry, connecting with one of the world's largest scientific societies, and advancing your career in this ever-changing global economy.

Mechanisms to Move the Oil and Gas Business to Green Chemistry

Presented by Dr. John Warner, Co-Founder of Beyond Benign; Co-Author of Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice; CEO of the Technology Greenhouse

Sunday, March 23rd from 8:00 - 11:00 AM PST | Marriot Grand Ballroom Section 11

To many people the oil and gas business represents one of the most unsustainable aspects of the chemical enterprises. In many ways this perception is deserved. But in some ways this perspective misses some important social implications. Because our global economy is currently dependent on this industry, we can’t simply decide to just stop overnight. It is going to take a very long time to create alternative technologies that meet the current global demands that the oil and gas business. In parallel to creating alternatives, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to take as many steps as possible to improve the sustainability performance of the myriad integrated processes to this business.. This presentation will discuss the challenges and opportunities that must be addressed as soon as possible.

Green Chemistry and Circular Economy Opportunities for Soft Materials

Presented by Dr. John Warner, Co-Founder of Beyond Benign; Co-Author of Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice; CEO of the Technology Greenhouse

Sunday, March 23rd from 4:20 - 4:25 PM PST | Ballroom 6D

Soft materials provide molecular mechanisms that allow the design of products capable of achieving sustainability goals (green chemistry and circular economy). Unique reversible and irreversible interactions that create flexible molecular architectures provide structural resilience and adaptation in various environments. These systems under dynamic equilibria offer customized product performance and enable circular economic models of reuse. This presentation will discuss examples of noncovalent derivatization and photo crosslinked polymer matrices as bioinspired illustrations of commercially relevant technologies that are consistent with the 12 principles of green chemistry.

Advancing Green Chemistry Education: The Process, Research and New Developments in Curricular Activities

Organized by: Dr. Deborah Bromfield-Lee, Dr. Monica Soma Hensley, & Dr. Jane Wissinger

Wednesday, March 26th from 8:00– 11:00 AM PST | Room 5B

There is an increase in educational activities aimed at enhancing knowledge and use of Green Chemistry principles and applications. However, with demands in academia, this sometimes presents a barrier to wider adoption across the curriculum. This symposium explores the process of developing Green Chemistry activities, courses, and curricular changes, sharing how educators got started and progressed through development. The discussion will cover research, theory-based methodology, and pedagogical strategies used to revamp or develop activities, as well as chemical education research on this process. The session will also discuss the pivotal role of change agents—educators and researchers who drive the adoption of innovative practices and sustainable principles in education. By sharing the developmental journey and the theoretical underpinnings of our assessment strategies, the session aims to contribute to the broader discourse on advancing Green Chemistry education and to inspire ongoing research and implementation of effective teaching methodologies. Speakers from all sectors of the CHED community are invited to share how they are integrating green and sustainable chemistry, systems-thinking, toxicology, and social/environmental justice into their classrooms, laboratory curriculum, undergraduate research and outreach activities. Interdisciplinary and international perspectives are welcome, as are student speakers at the undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral levels, including those from minority-serving institutions.

Fostering Green Chemistry Education: Enhancing Curricula and Faculty Development through Industry Collaboration and Open-Access Curriculum Development

Presented by Dr. Monica Soma Hensley

Wednesday, March 26th from 10:25 – 10:45 AM PST | Room 5B

The incorporation of green chemistry principles as a decision-making framework into academic curricula is essential for preparing students for sustainable careers in chemistry and related fields. This process requires the development of curricular materials that are both relevant and accessible, as well as a professional development infrastructure to support educators in this endeavor. Beyond Benign, a nonprofit organization focused on green chemistry education, has created a comprehensive framework that fosters faculty development through open-access resource creation and collaborative opportunities with industry experts. One key initiative is the faculty-led, faculty-developed approach to curriculum design, which incorporates industrial expertise to ensure real-world relevance. This partnership exemplifies how industrial collaboration can enhance curricular content, making it more applicable to current industry standards while supporting faculty in their professional growth.

In this presentation, notable case studies will be highlighted to showcase how Beyond Benign promotes collaboration for developing open-access curricular activities, and the impact of these initiatives on faculty development, resource creation, and the broader adoption of green chemistry education across academic institutions. Additionally, findings from a faculty survey highlighting the professional development needs of educators in green chemistry will be shared.

Environmental Justice: Community Engagement, Education and Action Through Green and Sustainable Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Organized by: Dr. Loyd Bastin, Dr. Edward Brush, Dr. Tsvetanka Filipova, Dr. Nimrat Obhi, Dr. Laurel Royer, and Dr. Jane Wissinger

Thursday, March 27th from 8:00 AM– 12:00 PM PST | Marriott Grand Ballroom: Section 5

This symposium will explore the growing need for the chemistry and chemical engineering enterprises to adopt green chemistry and green engineering principles and practices through the lens of environmental justice. The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines Environmental Justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies . . .achieved when everyone enjoys: (1) The same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and (2) Equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work. This symposium will engage a multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary discourse of speakers and participants focused on a re-evaluation of our business-as-usual practices through the lens of environmental justice: community groups and organizations, education (especially project-based and/or civic learning with environmental justice communities); careers at the intersection of green chemistry and environmental justice; sustainable chemistry technologies; sustainable engineering; connections to the UN Sustainable Development Goals; climate justice; policy statements; and industrial practices. The symposium will include an open discussion on Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results for the critical role that environmental justice will play in the chemistry and chemical engineering enterprises because it provides a framework to address global environmental and human health impacts that continue to disproportionately burden communities of color, vulnerable and low-income populations.

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. 

Join us in the GCTLC forums for an exciting “Ask Me Anything” interview with Dr. Amy Cannon - with you as the interviewers! 

From Nov. 12 to Nov. 15, post any questions for Dr. Cannon in our dedicated forum space. Dr. Cannon will be on hand during this period to answer your questions (time permitting!) – we do hope you will participate. 

Find Dr. Cannon's AMA forum and interview her here!