ISTC Seminar | Beyond Benign and the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC): Transforming chemistry education for a sustainable future
2024-04-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Abstract: Green chemistry is an upstream, preventative approach that can address global sustainability challenges, including fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (U.N. SDGs). Green chemistry is not a discrete field of chemistry but rather a framework grounded in twelve principles that teaches chemists to “reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture, and application of chemical products”. Green chemistry can help practising chemists undertake research and product design more efficiently, safely, and with fewer environmental and human health impacts. Currently, green chemistry is not taught ubiquitously in schools and university programs globally, despite being an essential framework. However, the green chemistry educational community has been growing rapidly and its importance is becoming more widely recognized. This is exemplified in the recently updated American Chemical Society (ACS) Guidelines for Bachelor’s Degree Programs, which now require undergraduate students to have a working knowledge of green chemistry and the twelve principles that underpin it upon graduation from an accredited program.
To help schools to achieve these transformations and shift how chemistry is taught, Beyond Benign—a registered 501(c)3 non-profit based in the U.S. —supports educators (including higher education faculty and K-12 teachers) to teach chemistry through the lens of green chemistry. Our programs provide opportunities for peer-to-peer networking and mentorship for educators, access to freely available curriculum resources (including greener lab experiments, lesson plans, modules, and more), access to grants and professional development opportunities, and more. Beyond Benign recently launched the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) in partnership with the ACS Green Chemistry Institute. The GCTLC is a virtual platform that provides a one-stop shop for all things green chemistry education. Users can search for and find other users and community members from across the world, post questions and share information in forums, search the community events calendar, find green chemistry job opportunities, contribute to the GCTLC’s searchable library of open-access resources, and more.
This presentation will provide an overview of Beyond Benign’s programs and in particular a discussion of the newly launched GCTLC platform. Our approach to creating an inclusive and welcoming space that fosters a sense of belonging will be emphasized. Ultimately, we will discuss how the GCTLC creates opportunities for ongoing engagement through a global community of practice for green chemistry education.
Biographies: Dr. Jonathon Moir (left) completed his B.Sc.H. at Queen’s University in 2010 (Chemistry, minor in Physics) and his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in 2016 in Inorganic Chemistry where his research focused on the synthesis and development of nanostructured metal oxide semiconductor thin films for photoelectrochemical applications. During his doctoral studies, Jonathon was a founding member of the Green Chemistry Initiative (GCI), a group of graduate students dedicated to promoting green chemistry principles and practices within the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto. In addition to co-leading numerous initiatives, Jonathon redeveloped a third-year undergraduate organic chemistry lab in collaboration with Professor Andy Dicks to include more concepts related to green chemistry, and later attended the ACS Green Chemistry Summer School in 2016. Following graduate school, Jonathon transitioned to the not-for-profit sector, where he has helped manage and support the development of international, interdisciplinary research programs, scientific projects, workshops and symposia as well as a national scholarship program in Canada for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. He is currently the Senior Program Manager at Beyond Benign for the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) platform and lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Dr. Nimrat Kaur Obhi (right) is from Ottawa, Canada and obtained their HBSc in Biomedical Sciences (Medicinal Chemistry) at the University of Ottawa in 2014. They completed their PhD in chemistry at the University of Toronto in 2020, where their research focused on the synthesis and investigation of carbon-based semiconducting polymers with complex architectures for electronic applications. During this time, Nimrat also completed a Chemistry Teaching Fellowship Award to design and implement a green chemistry course module into an upper-year chemistry course at the University of Toronto. They are committed to justice, equity, and diversity and have worked with local and national teams on advocacy and policy initiatives since 2014. Nimrat joined Beyond Benign as a Higher Education Program Manager in 2021 where their past work includes open-access curriculum development and supporting green chemistry education at Minority Serving Institutions. Currently, Nimrat is a Program Manager for the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC), where they develop community engagement and equity and justice initiatives for the platform. Nimrat currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario, and outside of work they are an avid skier, cook, outdoor sports enthusiast, swimmer, stationery lover, and bookbinder.
This webinar is a certified green event by the University of Illinois’ Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment.

The STANYS Eastern Section Lab Day 2024
2024-04-13 09:00 - 13:15 | S.U.N.Y. HVCC
Official Event Description

Join us for a morning of innovative hands-on activities presented by regional colleagues, aligned to NYSSLS, and ready to implement into your classroom. Lab Day 2024 will follow an open-format where you can attend two 90-minute sessions from a variety of disciplines. In each session, you will experience the activities as a learner and then be able to ask those burning teacher questions you have.

More information is forthcoming!

Green Chemistry Connections
2024-04-17 12:00 - 14:00, 2024-05-15 12:00 - 14:00 | Online
Register now to join us!
Beyond Benign will host virtual and monthly Green Chemistry Connections around Green Chemistry education using the Green Chemistry Students Learning Objectives from the Green Chemistry Commitment program as a loose framework. Register to stay in the loop about upcoming speakers.
Each time we meet, we will host community leaders actively practicing Green Chemistry and/or Toxicology in their courses and/or laboratories. Connections grow through time dedicated to small group discussions, networking, and resource sharing.
We ask that you BYOR, bring your own resource or request to the community – share a resource or put a request out to the group for resources you need.
We invite you to bring your departmental colleagues, external collaborators, graduate teaching assistants, etc. to the discussion as we will be holding this space and time monthly for the community to come together around Green Chemistry education to advance the field together!
Register now to join us!
After registering, you’ll receive more information about the Green Chemistry Connections via calendar invites and emails as the meeting time approaches.
For event recordings, conversations, and networking, visit the Green Chemistry Connections Event Connections Forum on the GCTLC.

October

Introducing our First Ever Co-Organizers and Co-Hosts
10/18/2023; 12- 2 PM EDT
At our October session, you will meet our first ever Green Chemistry Connections Co-Organizers and Co-hosts, learn about opportunities to share your work during a Connection, hear more about the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) – the new virtual platform for our amazing green chemistry community – and be invited to opportunities to engage with us!

November

Life Cycle Assessment and Green Metrics: Tips on Putting them into Practice
11/15/2023; 12-2 PM EDT
At our November session, you will hear from Dr. Samson Alayande (Founder, Green Nano LLC) and Dr. Philip Jessop (Professor and Canada Research Chair, Queens University, Canada) as they share presentations and insights about life cycle assessments (LCAs).

December

LatinXChem Connections: Award-Winning Posters in Green Chemistry
12/20/2023; 12-2 PM EST
At our December session, you will learn more about the LatinXChem annual Twitter Poster Conference from LatinXChem organizing committee member, Gustavo Mondragon.
This year, Beyond Benign was honored to sponsor two awards for posters in the green chemistry category. You will hear from winners Angie Sepulveda and Sergio Rincón-Carvajal as each will share their work. Find their posters linked below!
🥇🧪Angie Vanessa Patino Sepulveda (Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira), “Millimeter-Scale Physicochemistry and Its Impact on Green Chemistry in the Laboratory Environment”
(https://lnkd.in/ee2KmSjb)
🥈🧪Sergio Rincón-Carvajal (Universidad de Los Andes), “Design of simple, low-cost ball mill for teaching mechanochemistry to undergraduate students”
(https://lnkd.in/eYuTuBmS)

January

“Sustainable Chemistry: Preview of ISC3’s Vision and E-learning Module” and “UNEP Manuals on Green and Sustainable Chemistry”
1/17/2024; 12-2 PM EST
Read more about this month’s expert speakers from the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaboration Center (ISC3) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) below.
“Sustainable Chemistry: Preview of ISC3’s Vision and E-learning Module”
Speakers: Jens Krol and Juanita Halblaub (ISC3)
Jens is from the Netherlands, has a master’s in biotechnology and has worked as a chemistry teacher in the Netherlands and in Afghanistan through a special program of the German government. He currently manages the educational activities of ISC3. He loves Chemistry education and is therefore very happy to be part of this Green Chemistry Connection.
Juanita holds an MBA in international business and works at the ISC3 on the topic of sustainable chemistry innovation. She currently works on a publication that discusses examples of Sustainable Chemistry and is excited to share some of those examples with you.
Jens Krol and Juanita Halblaub will present products the ISC3 is developing and are looking forward to getting as much feedback as possible!
“UNEP Manuals on Green and Sustainable Chemistry”
Speaker: Colin Hannahan (UNEP)
Colin has worked on green and sustainable chemistry as a consultant with the UNEP chemicals and health branch since January 2021. Originally from the U.S.A., Colin holds his bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters in Sustainable Chemistry from the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia in Spain. He has experience working with a range of stakeholders on strengthening green chemistry education and the science-policy interface.

February

Investigating green and sustainable chemistry through case studies
Dr. Veronica Mengqi Zhang, Organic Chemistry Lab Instructor, Michigan State University
Dr. Mengqi (Veronica) Zhang Mengqi (Veronica) Zhang is the organic chemistry laboratory coordinator at the Chemistry Department, Michigan State University. Her research interest focuses on curriculum development, instructional laboratory experiment design, green chemistry, and microwave chemistry. She is also an active member of ACS local sector and the Three-Dimensional Learning Team at MSU.
Taking Action in the Laboratory – Equipement and Plastics
Patrick Penndorf, Sceince Communicator and Sustainability Advocate, ReAdvance
Patrick Penndorf is a scientist from Germany with a background in Biochemistry. During his Bachelors thesis in Protein Chemistry, he started to come up with more sustainable protocols for his experiments. However, it was not until a research stay in Canada, that he got in touch with some colleagues that were as enthusiastic about sustainability as he was. They started an initiative and soon hosted an online conference to share insights into sustainable practices with scientists worldwide. Today, this initiative is called ReAdvance. They share their own insights and work together with international research societies, companies and initiatives to promote their solutions. It is their goal to help each and every scientist to make their science more sustainable by spreading greener protocols, labware and approaches.
Investigating green and sustainable chemistry through case studies
Dr. Elizabeth Day Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso
Dr. Day is an analytical chemist with a major focus on chemistry education research and an interest in science/STEM education. Her expertise is in curriculum development and evaluation, assessment design, and green and sustainable chemistry education. Her laboratory leverages education research methods (mix of qualitative analysis, statistical modeling, and design-based research methods) to discover how to support student learning. Specifically, her approach centers assessing to support students’ knowledge-in-use through the framing of the Three-Dimensional Learning framework and a socio-cognitive perspective on educational measurement. Dr. Day is currently an Assistant Professor in the department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Reinforcing Green Chemistry Education in the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory at the University of Toronto
Dr. Barb Morra Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, University of Toronto
Barb Morra is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto. Barb’s passion for chemistry and teaching translate into her pedagogical research and curriculum development initiatives which have resulted in a suite of research-based laboratory experiments, activities, and technological tools that help undergraduate students connect chemistry with research and applications. To further these efforts, Barb actively works with undergraduate and graduate students in pedagogical projects. Barb’s interest in green and sustainable principles has led her to transform chemistry education within her department through a variety of initiatives that have been recognized through the Green Chemistry Commitment program. Her role within several international green chemistry programs has allowed her to foster a green chemistry education community that empowers global educators to make meaningful changes in their teaching. Examples include her roles as an assessment consultant for the Green & Sustainable Chemistry Education Module Development Project and curriculum developer for the Toxicology for Chemists Program.
Rethinking Reactions, McGill’s Approach to Green Chemistry in the Organic Lab
Dr. Danielle Vlaho, Academic Associate at McGill University
Danielle is an Academic Associate in the Department of Chemistry at McGill University. As the lab instructor for the organic chemistry courses, she is interested in the development and implementation of robust and sustainable chemistry experiments that foster scientific curiosity.

March: Inspiration from Nature: Bioinspired and Biobased Materials

Bio-inspired materials processing: Time-tested tricks for sustainably fabricating advanced materials
Dr. Matthew James Harrington, Professor and Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Green Chemistry (McGill University)
Matthew Harrington is Professor and Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Green Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at McGill University, as well as co-director of the McGill Institute of Advanced Materials (MIAM) and director of the McGill Chemistry Characterization (MC2). He received his Ph.D. in 2008 from the University of California, Santa Barbara in the lab of J. Herbert Waite. This was followed by a Humboldt postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in the Department of Biomaterials, where he was later a research group leader from 2010 until 2017. His research is focused on understanding biochemical structure–property relationships in the function and formation of biological materials and applying extracted design principles for the development and sustainable production of bio-inspired materials.
Enabling technologies for the sustainable chemical synthesis of high added-value compounds from renewable sources.
Professor Julio Pastre, University of Campinas
Prof. Dr. Julio C. Pastre obtained his PhD in 2009 at the University of Campinas – UNICAMP. He then worked as a research scientist at Rhodia-Solvay before moving back to UNICAMP for postdoctoral studies with Professor Ronaldo A. Pilli. In 2012, he joined the group of Professor Steven V. Ley at the University of Cambridge. Two years later, Julio established his independent research group at UNICAMP and recently became Associate Professor. He is now the Head of the Department of Organic Chemistry. Recently, he was recognized as an ‘Emerging Investigator’ by Reaction Chemistry & Engineering and RSC Advances and a ‘New Talent from the Americas’ by RSC Medicinal Chemistry. He received the Thieme Chemistry Journals Award by Synfact, Synlett and Synthesis – Thieme in 2023. His research interest focuses on the development of new synthetic methods using enabling technologies for the synthesis of high added-value compounds from renewable sources, including platform molecules, new chemicals, and APIs.

Green Chemistry Activities by ACS UFRJ Student Chapter
Silmara Furtado, President, ACS Student Chapter at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Silmara Furtado is chair of the ACS Chapter at the Universidad Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Silmara and her organization of excellent young chemists were awarded a grant from Beyond Benign for 2022-2023, and their work was recognized at the 2024 ACS Spring National Meeting with an Undergraduate Student Chapter Award in green chemistry.

Green Chemistry Initiatives by the ACS UPR-RP Student Chapter
Alanys V. Luna Ramirez, President, ACS Student ChapterUniversity of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

Alanys V. Luna Ramirez is a student leader from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, working as president of the university’s American Chemical Society Student Chapter. Alanys and her organization of excellent young chemists were awarded a grant from Beyond Benign for 2022-2023, and their work was recognized at the 2024 ACS Spring National Meeting with an Undergraduate Student Chapter Award in green chemistry.

Green Chemistry; A Platform for Impact and Innovation at Novartis
Dr. Scott Plummer, Senior Principal Scientist At Novartis

Scott V. Plummer received his B.S. in chemistry from the College of William & Mary (1997) and completed his doctoral dissertation at Indiana University (2003) under the guidance of Professor David R. Williams. He began his industrial career at AMRI, where he spent five years as a process chemist in the Chemical Development Division. From there he moved to Alcon in Fort Worth, Texas to be part of their Chemical Preparations Research Team. In this capacity, he was involved in the synthesis of APIs from early process development thru GMP batch production. In 2013, Scott moved to the Global Discovery Chemistry unit within the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. As part of the SynTech team, he is tasked with formulating material enablement strategies with research teams, outsourcing, and the introduction of emerging synthesis technologies to the project portfolio. Scott has a particular interest in the application of green technologies (biocatalysis, flow chemistry, aqueous surfactant chemistry) to programs in the portfolio. He runs the Green Chemistry team within the Global Discovery Chemistry unit and serves as Novartis’ representative to the ACS Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable.

Observe, Wonder, Think: A Green Chemistry Interactive Webinar Series
2024-04-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Calling all K-12 teachers! Create safer, more engaging learning environments by integrating green chemistry and sustainable science principles into your classroom. Join your peers at our monthly professional development series: Observe, Wonder, Think: A Green Chemistry Interactive Webinar Series to learn how! Following NGSS best practice techniques, this webinar series will support K-12 educators to foster “observe, wonder, think” with their students using hands-on green chemistry labs and highlighting real-world green chemistry technologies.
This year, we will be highlighting the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry! Each time we meet, we will focus on a selection of principles, which we will bring those to life with a short, interactive classroom activity and presentations from education speakers demonstrating how they incorporate those principles into their classroom activities and labs.
We encourage you to invite your colleagues and friends to join these virtual discussions. We will provide a certification of participation at the end of every meeting, for use towards PD hours for those of you who can use them for that. This dedicated monthly time is designed to bring the green chemistry community together to advance the field and share ideas and resources for inspiring students through green chemistry!
Check the list below for more information on monthly sessions, which will be updated throughout the year.
Join the Observe, Wonder, Think event connections forum for recordings, recaps, and more opportunities to connect!

September

Chemical Storage, Lab Safety, and Lab Waste
Presented by Mr. William McMahon Lab Technician, State University of New York (SUNY) Jefferson Community College
09/21/2023; 6PM EST
Mr. McMahon has spent 20 years running the academic science labs and stockrooms at SUNY Jefferson. He will be presenting on chemical storage, lab waste disposal and lab safety. He will share many of the best practices that Jefferson has adopted to promote safety culture in the science division. He will share materials and devote time to a question & answer session.

October
Green Chemistry and Sustainable Science: A Green Approach to Sustainable STEM in K-12.
Presented by Lead Teachers Annette Sebuyira and Erin Mayer
10/19/2023; 7 PM ET

At October’s Observe, Wonder, Think Webinar, Annette Sebuyira and Erin Mayer will share
a new guide book designed by our dedicated team of excellent K-12 Lead Teachers, “Green Chemistry and Sustainable Science: A Green Approach to Sustainable STEM.”

November

Green Chemistry and Sustainable Science: A Green Approach to Sustainable STEM in K-12.

11/16/2023; 6 PM ET
At November’s Observe, Wonder, Think webinar, Beyond Benign Lead Teachers Stefanie Loomis and Veronica Morabito-Weeks will share principles and resources from Sustainable Science: A Green Approach to Sustainable STEM including flame tests and biomimicry presentations.

This guide book, created by Beyond Benign Lead Teachers and the NYS Master Teacher Program, Green Chemistry Professional Learning Team, is designed to help educators bring green chemistry to their elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms.

January

Bellingham High School: “Green” Laboratory Research
01/18/2024; 7 PM EST
The Bellingham High School Chemistry team has been researching new “green” chemistry laboratory experiments to replace high-risk experiments. Staff and students have tested over twelve laboratory experiments to determine if the “greener” option is as effective as the traditional experiment. We have also modified existing laboratory experiments to reduce risk. We will look into what has worked for BHS and share ideas for future research.

Info Session: Green Chemistry Commitment
2024-04-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Event Description
The Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) is a framework to unite the Green Chemistry higher education community around a common vision to:

Expand the community of green chemists;
Grow departmental resources;
Improve connections to job opportunities;
Affect systemic and lasting change in chemistry education.

Join us for an information session, where you can learn more about the GCC’s benefits and outcomes of becoming a GCC Signer. We’ll also be sharing our latest initiatives for the higher education community including the Green Chemistry Teaching & Learning Community (GCTLC) Online Platform and our Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Initiative.
When your institution becomes a GCC signer, you will gain:

Access to a broad and supportive community of chemistry experts;
A flexible framework for green chemistry curriculum and training;
A benchmark to track progress on learning and research objectives;
A network dedicated to shifting how and what the next generation of chemists learn;
Access to funding opportunities and projects.

The GCC is a departmental commitment, so please consider inviting your colleagues or department chair to this event.

Catalyze: Education to Industry Innovation
2024-04-25 08:00 - 18:00 | MilliporeSigma, 400 Summit Drive, Burlington, MA, 01803, United States
Beyond Benign and MilliporeSigma are thrilled to invite you to ‘Catalyze: Education to Industry Innovation’. This event will provide a unique opportunity to explore green chemistry education in university curriculum as a critical driver for industry innovation.
Bringing together a diverse lineup of experts, educators, and industry professionals, the symposium will include keynote sessions, engaging panel discussions, interactive workshops, a poster session, and networking opportunities.
Whether you are a student, educator, or industry professional, this free symposium is a must-attend event to learn how green chemistry catalyzes industry sustainability goals.
Keynote Speakers:

Karen Madden, Chief Technology Officer, MilliporeSigma
Dr. John Warner, Co-Founder, Beyond Benign and CEO and President, The Technology Greenhouse.
See the full agenda here.

Faculty – Register Here!
Students – Register Here!
Date: April 25th, 2024
Time: 8 am – 6 pm (ET)
Location: MilliporeSigma, 400 Summit Drive, Burlington, MA 01803

8th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference (Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference)
2024-05-13 - 2024-05-15 | Dresden, Germany
Official Event Description
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
Reasons to attend

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.

Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition - Winnipeg
2024-06-02 - 2024-06-06 | Winnipeg, MB
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 below.
Official Event Description
“Together with the entire organizing committee, I invite you to Winnipeg June 2-6, 2024 for the 107th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, CSC 2024! Winnipeg is located on Treaty One Territory, original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. For thousands of years, this site at the confluence of the Assiniboine and the Red Rivers has been known as a meeting place, and we look forward to meeting you and learning about your discoveries.
Winnipeg was to have hosted this annual conference in 2020, but the pandemic forced the cancellation of that fully-planned meeting. After going two years without in-person conferences, many of us recognized that these gatherings are about more than seeing and hearing the latest work in our field; they are especially about meeting: networking, making new contacts, getting to know one another beyond the publications and patents. When we at the University of Saskatchewan were invited to host this conference for the first time since 2005, we embraced the idea of bringing people together, and we were happy to team with our colleagues at the University of Manitoba to host the chemistry community and to honour all the work of the 2020 team.
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
Event Details

Who: Scientists, Industry, Non-Profits
When: 06/02/2024-06/06/2024
Where: RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg
How: Check this page for updates on registration dates!

28th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference
2024-06-03 - 2024-06-05 | Atlanta, GA
Save the date! Join our team members, community, and our partner ACS Green Chemistry Institute at the 28th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference (GC&E) on June 3rd – June 5th in Atlanta, GA. The theme of the 2024 GC&E Conference is AI-Enabled Green Chemistry!

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

SIGNERS ONLY! Green Chemistry Commitment Summit!
2024-06-13 10:00 - 13:00, 2024-06-13 19:00 - 22:00
Leaving No One Behind: Green Chemistry needs us all online
2024 Green Chemistry Commitment Summit
NOTE: Please check time zone conversions to find the most accurate time for your location.
Session 1: 10 AM- 1 PM EDT
Session 2: 7 PM- 10 PM EDT
Zoom link to be shared VIA EMAIL on June 12th

Dear Friends,
The Beyond Benign Higher Education Program is thrilled to invite you to our annual GCC Summit! Held virtually, at two separate times to accommodate the diversity of institutions connected through the GCC program, this Summit will take place on Thursday, June 13th via Zoom. Attendees are encouraged to participate throughout the day, should your schedule allow, as they will include different community members to engage with through the breakout sessions. Below is the tentative agenda for session 1.
AGENDA FOR SESSION 1

Time
Title/Topic/Activity

10:00 – 10:30 AM
GCC Program Global Growth and Signer-Only Benefits

10:30 – 10:50 AM
Community Discussions on GCC Benefits & Opportunities

10:50-11:00 AM
What’s ahead for 2024-2025 for the GCC Program

11:00 – 11:15 AM
Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) Platform: Overview & Growth of Community of Transformation

11:15 – 11:30 AM
Publication Opportunities in Green Chemistry

11:30 – 12:15 PM
Community Discussions on publishing and online resources

12:15-12:30 PM
Break – Shimmy and Shake, Finish connecting with someone in chat or grab a newly uploaded resource

12:30-1:00 PM
Explore & Working Session on the GCTLC platform

AGENDA FOR SESSION 2

Time
Title/Topic

7:00 – 7:30 PM
GCC Program Global Growth and Signer-Only Benefits

7:30 – 7:50 PM
Community Discussions on GCC Benefits & Opportunities

7:50 – 08:00 PM
What’s ahead for 2024-2025 for the GCC Program

8:00 – 8:30 PM
Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) Platform: Overview & Growth of Community of Transformation

8:30 – 9:15 PM
Community Discussions on publishing and online resources

9:15-9:30 PM
Break – Shimmy and Shake, Finish connecting with someone in chat or grab a newly uploaded resource

9:30-10:00 PM
Explore & Working Session on the GCTLC platform

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s GCC Summit!
Warmly,
The Beyond Benign Higher Education Team

9th EuChemS, Chemistry Congress
2024-07-07 08:00 - 2024-07-11 17:00 | Dublin, Ireland
Official Event Description
The Institute of Chemistry Ireland (ICI) is delighted and honoured to be organising the 9th EuChemS Chemistry Congress (ECC-9), to be held in Dublin, Ireland, from 7th – 11th July, 2024.
The 9th EuChemS Chemistry Congress will have an exciting scientific programme with world-leading plenary speakers, invited speakers and short oral presentations, supplemented with a series of poster presentations, focused around eight scientific themes:

Advances in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (including Asymmetric Methodology, Inorganic Methodology, Green Synthetic Methodologies)
Catalysis (including Organometallic Catalysis, Organocatalysis, Biocatalysis, Photoredox Catalysis, Electrocatalysis)
Chemistry Meets Biology For Health (including Medicinal, Bioinorganic, Bioorganometallic, Radiochemistry, Food and Nutrition)
Education, History, Cultural Heritage, and Ethics in Chemistry
Energy, Environment and Sustainability (including Emerging Sustainable Chemistry, Technologies, Biomass Valorisation, Green Synthetic Methodologies, Circular Bioeconomy, Food)
Nanochemistry/Materials (including Organic and Inorganic, Material Science, Devices, Circuits, Systems, Neuromorphic Networks, and Bio-Inspired Computing)
Physical, Analytical and Computational Chemistry (including Physical chemistry of materials, Advances in physical chemistry and new techniques, New analytical methodologies and applications, Sensors, Theory and applications of computational chemistry and Machine Learning/AI)
Supramolecular Chemistry (including Chirality, Molecular Machines, Dissipative Systems, MOFs, Molecular Nanotopology, Sensors, Metallo-Supramolecular Chemistry, Molecular Logic, Host-Guest Chemistry, Self-Assembly Materials and Higher Order Structures)

The programme will feature dedicated sessions organised by the EuChemS European Young Chemists´ Network of EuChemS (EYCN) and the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (ICI), and will be completed by a series of joint seminars and mini-symposia on:

New strategies and requirements for analytical chemistry in environmental assessment
Homogeneous catalysis and applications in synthesis
Recent advances in pharmaceutical chemistry and manufacturing

This Congress is the 9th in a series that started in Budapest in 2006, and since then has been held in several cities across Europe before reaching Dublin. The EuChemS Congresses are noted for their excellent scientific level, and have a reputation for giving all the attendees and participants the opportunity to listen to and interact with some of the most celebrated researchers in the world.
We look forward to welcoming you in Dublin in 2024!

27th IUPAC International Conference on Chemistry Education (ICCE2024)
2024-07-15 - 2024-08-19 | Pattaya, Thailand
Official Event Description
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.

Biennial Conference on Chemical Education
2024-07-28 08:00 - 2024-08-01 17:00 | University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Official Event Description
The conference will be held on the beautiful campus of University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky in the Summer of 2024. The 28th BCCE, like all of its predecessors, is designed to provide you with opportunities for interacting with chemistry instructors of all levels in formal and informal settings. There will be a mixture of symposia, workshops, poster sessions, exhibits, and tours of chemistry research areas.

Registration for BCCE 2024 is now live. Early bird pricing is available until May 31! The registration form includes workshops, on-campus housing options, and more. Those who have submitted abstracts will be notified in April about their submission.

The conference will be organized around four themes – Classroom Practice and Learning Environments, Curriculum and Cognition, Assessment and Research Methods, and Professional Development – within the K-12, two-year college, and university communities.
Instructions for presenters are available.

Sunday
Workshop: Introduction to Integrating Green Chemistry and Sustainability in Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories
8:30am – 11:45am
Chaired by: John De Backere (University of Toronto)
Authors: Jonathon Moir, John De Backere, David Laviska, Jane Wissinger
Green Chemistry is a framework that helps “minimize or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances” in chemical processes and products. It is our responsibility as instructors to educate our students with respect to green chemistry, sustainability, and environmental issues to prepare them as future members of the workforce and agents of change in the world. Importantly, this has recently been recognized in the new ACS Guidelines for Bachelor’s Degree Programs as a critical requirement, whereby curricula must provide students with a working knowledge of the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry.
This interactive half-day (3h) workshop is aimed towards laboratory instructors at two- and four-year undergraduate institutions teaching curricula in all areas of specialization. We will illustrate the connection between fundamental principles of green chemistry, safety, and traditional teaching laboratory protocols (further examples provided in the accompanying symposium, see below for details). Participants will gain an understanding of not only practical aspects of greening undergraduate labs, but also ways of modifying assessments and content to improve pedagogical aspects of laboratory learning to include more topics around green chemistry and broader sustainability concepts. Participants will then divide into small sub-discipline specific groups to share experiments currently used in their courses, and discuss possible modifications to their own lab manuals to make them “greener”. After reflecting on current curricula, we will explore a number of useful resources for integrating theory into practice, such as the new online Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC). The workshop will conclude by creating personal action plans for implementing sustainable changes, both practically and pedagogically, to current experiments or potentially new experiments to be developed.
This workshop complements the symposium entitled “Frontiers in Integrating Green Chemistry and Sustainability into the Teaching Laboratory”, which will provide recent examples of “greener” teaching experiments.

Monday
Poster: Addressing the knowledge gap through professional education initiatives for educators to promote the global integration of sustainable chemistry into curricula
6:00pm – 6:55pm
Presented By: Monica Nyansa
The design for sustainable solutions to global challenges creates a critical need to develop a future workforce proficient in practicing and teaching the principles of sustainable chemistry. This entails equipping present and future scientists with the requisite skills in green chemistry and sustainability. The American Chemical Society (ACS) recently updated its Guidelines for Bachelor’s Degree Programs to incorporate green chemistry and sustainability into the learning outcomes as a normal expectation for coursework in ACS-approved degree programs.
Beyond Benign, an educational nonprofit that is a prominent advocate for green chemistry education worldwide plays a pivotal role in supporting the integration of green chemistry and sustainable practices into the chemistry curriculum. This support extends to the development and dissemination of curricular materials and resources created directly with educators and strategic partners through their Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) and the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) platform. Another way Beyond Benign supports this endeavor is through the exploration of professional educational opportunities, empowering educators to integrate green chemistry and sustainability principles into the chemistry curriculum effectively, thus nurturing the next generation of scientists adept at addressing global challenges through sustainable chemistry practices.
This presentation aims to highlight the ongoing efforts of Beyond Benign, a champion of green chemistry education, to explore professional educational opportunities for educators, facilitating the integration of green and sustainable chemistry into the chemistry curriculum for a sustainable future.

Tuesday
Green Chemistry Education: Empowering the Global Community
in S60: Promoting Global Collaboration in Chemistry Education: Insights from International Initiatives | 8:30am – 10:00am
Talk Presented By: Amy Cannon

The field of chemistry, providing the molecular building blocks of materials and products used throughout society, has a critical and foundational role in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations. Green chemistry, the use and design of less hazardous chemical products, is essential in providing solutions in order to achieve these ambitious goals. As the global demand for greener, more sustainable chemicals and materials grows, the chemistry education system must shift in order to meet this demand. Green chemistry education is required to train scientists and professionals with the skills to address hazards and mitigate impacts at the earliest stages of the product lifecycle. Beyond Benign, a non-profit organization based in the USA, has been leading green educational initiatives aimed at empowering educators to change chemistry education for a sustainable future. As the organization has grown, so has the outreach and engagement with the global chemistry education community. With specific goals to scale the adoption of green chemistry within higher education systems globally, this presentation will share Beyond Benign’s approach to building community and engaging educators, empowering them to be transformative change agents. Specifically, the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) program, an institutional commitment towards including green chemistry in college level chemistry programs, and the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC), an on-line platform supporting educators on their journeys, will be highlighted. Each program aims to build upon work in North America and authentically engage and empower the global community to adopt green chemistry in their teaching and practice.

Development of an open-access, community-driven, peer-reviewed library of green chemistry educational materials in Drupal 10: The Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC)
in S233: Computers in Chemical Education | 10:15am – 11:45 am
Talk Presented By: Jonathon Moir
The Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) is a virtual space for higher education faculty and lecturers as well as K-12 teachers to find and share resources, participate in peer-to-peer learning, and connect and network with other users from around the world. The mission of the GCTLC is to help advance the integration of green chemistry across education systems worldwide to help train the next generation of scientists and workers with the knowledge and skills to address sustainability challenges across the globe. The platform allows users to connect with others through forums, group spaces, events, a job board, and more. Of particular note is the GCTLC’s open-access, peer-reviewed and community-driven library of over 190 curriculum resources. These include greener lab experiments, course modules, lecture slides, assessments and exams, journal articles, and more. Users can browse the existing collections via searching based on keyword terms, by contributor, by title, or by other filters, and can submit their own original work to the library or submit existing resources found elsewhere on the internet. Submitted resources undergo a simplified peer review process, managed by the GCTLC’s Chief Editor, and upon acceptance are published in the GCTLC’s searchable library (and, if warranted, added to new or existing curated collections on the platform). This presentation will overview the development and management of the GCTLC’s library and peer-review system using Drupal 10, including use of taxonomy terms, moderation states and workflows, and dynamic content displays. Ultimately this presentation will showcase the utility of open-source programming in creating inclusive spaces for educational communities of practice.

B19: Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) Get-Together and Share-a-thon
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Chaired By: Jonathon Moir and Nimrat Obhi
This Birds of a Feather is a chance to come learn about the GCTLC and meet other GCTLC users (in-person!) from around the world. After some informal socializing, Beyond Benign’s team members will walk through the basics of the GCTLC platform and jump into a group sharing session including an in-person resource upload (hackathon style)! We ask all attendees to bring their personal laptops to participate in the share-a-thon!
Attendees may ask for a “to go” container for their lunch from Champions Kitchen and bring it with you to the Birds of a Feather session.

Fostering a sense of belonging on the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) online platform
in S98: Effective Approaches to Inclusive Chemistry Education | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Talk Presented by: Nimrat Obhi
Green chemistry education is essential in helping chemists and people with chemistry training to achieve global sustainability targets such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Inclusive communities of practice are needed to foster and facilitate transformative change in chemistry education for widespread knowledge and adoption of green chemistry. Beyond Benign – a non-profit organization advocating for global green chemistry education – has created the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC), a free online platform that is the meeting place for a global green chemistry education community of practice. The GCTLC offers community-driven spaces and peer-to-peer mentoring, access to a searchable library of open-access green chemistry educational resources, an events calendar, a job board, and more.
Ensuring the GCTLC is and remains an inclusive community of practice for green chemistry educators involves interweaving diversity, equity, belonging, and respect principles throughout the entire development and sustenance of the platform. This presentation will outline our efforts to design an online space prioritizing educators’ feelings of belonging, community, and growth. We will discuss drafting a Code of Conduct for the platform, creating equitable and accessible community spaces, finding open-access resources for educators that include methods to decolonize and diversify green chemistry, running global community events, and creating an inclusive community engagement strategy for all users. Ultimately, we will discuss using open-access online platforms to strengthen a pipeline of green chemistry practitioners who are empowered to transform chemistry education.

Wednesday
B24: Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) Program: Lunch and Learn about Professional Development and Grants
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Chaired By: Amy Cannon, Monica Nyansa
Join Beyond Benign staff and faculty from Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) institutions for sharing green chemistry education best practices and networking over lunch. This session is open to all who are interested in incorporating green chemistry into their curriculum or interested in learning more about Beyond Benign’s Green Chemistry Commitment program and/or the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) online platform. Attendees will learn about the new benefits of the GCC program, including the GCTLC platform, green chemistry education challenge awards, and free on-demand professional development in green chemistry and toxicology for signing institution members to access through the GCC program only but open to all at a sustainable cost.
Attendees may ask for a “to go” container for their lunch from Champions Kitchen and bring it with you to the Birds of a Feather session.

S31: Current Research on the Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory
Chaired by: Nikita Burrows (Monmouth University) , Monica Nyansa (Michigan Technological University, Beyond Benign) , Mary Ross (Central College)
This symposium will focus on current qualitative and quantitative research related to the undergraduate chemistry laboratory curriculum. Contributed papers should address research related to any aspect of the undergraduate laboratory. This includes, but is not limited to, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, instructors, students, laboratory curriculum, pre-laboratory assignments, laboratory assessments, cognitive, affective or psychomotor factors, etc. Related research on laboratory design for exploring student’s engagement in chemistry laboratory may also be addressed.

Two-Day Symposium: Integrating Green Chemistry and Sustainability into Chemistry Education
Chaired By: Loyd Bastin (Widener University), and David Laviska (ACS Green Chemistry Institute)
See link above for dates and times.
This symposium will highlight the incorporation of green chemistry and sustainability principles throughout the chemistry curriculum as well as through co-curricular activities such as clubs, organizations and service-learning opportunities. The focus will be on green chemistry and sustainability materials and models rooted in the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry that are designed to educate high school, community college, four year college and graduate students. These materials will include classroom teaching modules/courses, learning methods, educational research, laboratory experiments and experiences, the integration of toxicology into the chemistry curriculum, and the use of systems-thinking.

(GCC SIGNERS ONLY) Greener Curriculum Showcase Series: Use of ChemFORWARD for Chemical Hazard Evaluation and Assessment in Academic Settings
2024-08-08 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-08-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
This free, virtual workshop for Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) signers aims to help educators effectively adapt and implement the ChemFORWARD module, which focuses on chemical hazard assessment and safer alternatives, into their curriculum materials. Chemical Hazard Assessment is a critical component when designing safer chemicals and coming up with safer alternatives to toxic and hazardous chemicals.
The ChemFORWARD module helps instructors teach students how to use the ChemFORWARD platform to obtain hazard information for specific chemicals, identify safer chemicals to replace chemicals of concern in research and product formulations and avoid regrettable substitutions.
During the session, facilitators will guide participants through the resources, offer practical strategies for adaptation and implementation, and provide opportunities for educators to share insights. The virtual 1.5-hour workshop will include group-based learning, discussions, networking opportunities, and a Q&A session.
The goals for the workshop include:

Educate participants on the value of teaching green chemistry and toxicological principles, including hazards, risks, hazard assessment, and safer alternatives.
Guide participants on practical approaches to effectively incorporate the ChemFORWARD curriculum materials into their courses.
Empower participants to adapt and implement the ChemFORWARD module resources and expand their professional network.

Workshop participants interested in using the module in their courses will be given temporary access to the ChemFORWARD database for free!
Event Details

Who: Educators at GCC signing institutions
What: A chance for you to learn more about the ChemFORWARD module and get your questions answered
When: Thursday, August 8, 5 – 6:30 p.m. EDT OR Friday, August 9, 10 – 11:30 a.m. EDT
Where: Online (we’ll email you details about how to connect)

If you are a GCC signer, we hope you’ll join us for one of these sessions! Limited seats are available for this workshop, so registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Register below to secure your spot. We’ll send a Zoom link and more information closer to the date.
The August sessions are open to GCC signers only — stay tuned for more workshops in our Greener Curriculum Showcase Series!

Register Here.

ACS Fall 2024: Elevating Chemistry
2024-08-18 - 2024-08-24 | Denver, Colorado
Connect with peers and get the latest insights in chemistry! More information is forthcoming.

Ask me Anything with Dr. John Warner
2024-09-03 - 2024-09-06
Join us in the GCTLC forums for an exciting “Ask Me Anything” interview with Dr. John Warner – with you as the interviewers! From Sept. 3 to Sept. 6, post any questions for Dr. Warner in our dedicated forum space (launching soon, link will be added here when available). Dr. Warner will be on hand during this period to answer your questions (time permitting!) – we do hope you will participate. Stay tuned for more information!

Green Chemistry Connections
2024-09-18 12:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-16 05:00 - 07:00, 2024-11-20 18:00 - 20:00
From biomimicry to toxicology, green chemistry offers powerful solutions to some of the world’s most pressing crises. This year, we want to zero-in on the powerfully adaptable principles of green chemistry, and their role in forming connections between educators, industry, and advocates.
How? This year’s speakers are a host of change makers from diverse professions— each working to apply green chemistry in unique and inventive ways. K-12 educators, higher education faculty, industry professionals, advocates, and all are welcome to join these interactive, monthly conversations.
In order to accommodate a growing global community, we are approaching connections differently this year. Still on the third Wednesday of the month, we will be rotating through three alternating times. Can’t make it to a webinar, or need a reminder? Don’t stress! When you register, you will have access to recordings, calendar invites, and reminders– all sent directly to your inbox.
Please feel free to share these webinars with friends and colleagues of all disciplines and backgrounds. We know the true power of our green chemistry community is how we connect with the world— so, come connect with us!

April 2025 Webinar

Join our April Green Chemistry Connections session to explore systems thinking, sustainability, and circularity teaching tools with changemakers from Texas Woman’s University, The King’s University, Carleton University, and My Green Lab.
• John Beatty | Assistant Professor, Texas Woman’s University
• Peter Mahaffy | Professor of Chemistry, The King’s University
• Alisha Szozda | Postdoctoral Fellow, Carleton Univeristy & Chief Moderator, Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community
• Christina Greever-Wilson | Director of Communities, My Green Lab
March 2025 Webinar

This Green Chemistry Connections session focuses on health and pollutants, covering topics including air quality, PFAS, and toxicology.
You’ll here from:
• Charles Grimison, Technical Director, Ventia
• Xiao Tan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Zhang Group, The University of Queensland
• Amanda Wheeler, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Environmental Research Unit
• Paul Wright, Associate Professor of Immunotoxicology and Unit Leader of Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences at RMIT University

February 2025 Webinar

Green Chemistry Outreach and the Student Journey
Explore how educators and current graduate students are promoting a sustainable future by inspiring the next generation of green chemists. Discover methods to engage students through green chemistry concepts, motivating them to tackle our current environmental challenges and gain the skills needed to drive innovation in a rapidly changing world.
Featured speakers are:

Adele Mastroyannis, ARC Training Centre for Green Chemistry in Manufacturing
EJ Broker, Texas A&M University
Julian Silverman, Fashion Institute of Technology
Janie Butler, Science Done Sustainably

Whether you’re a student, educator, or industry professional, this webinar will provide valuable perspectives on how the current generation of chemists is preparing the next toward contributing to a healthier and greener future. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of the transformation!

January 2025 Webinar

Biomimicry and Nanotechnology for Green and Sustainable Chemistry
Speakers 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
Prof. Terry Turney, Sonic Essentials
Olivia Faye Dickinson, University of Bath

December 2024 Webinar

Presentations from the 2024 LatinXChem Green Chemistry Poster Winners
Beyond Benign was proud to sponsor the 2024 Green Chemistry awards at this year’s LatinXChem virtual poster conference, and we are thrilled to welcome the winners to our December 2024 Green Chemistry Connections session. Hear from the following speakers on our YouTube channel:
• Vinicius Madriaga | @Universidade Federal Fluminense
• Karen Michelle Coutiño Melchor | @National Technological Institute of Mexico
• Dr. Gustavo Mondragón-Solórzano | @Northeastern University
November 2024 Webinar

Lab Safety: Not-So-Scary Alternatives
Our organizers and featured speakers will discuss greener alternatives for building a healthy and safe environment in your lab (and beyond!). This session will cover applications of #GreenChemistry to create safer labs for K-12 and Higher Education audiences.
Meet the featured speakers:
• Dr. Elizabeth Braun | Lab Safety Institute
• Cassie Lydon | White Bear Lake High School
• Cassie Javner | Shakopee High School
• Dr. Jane Wissinger | University of Minnesota

October 2024 Webinar

Green Chemistry Toward A Circular Economy
During our October session, we heard from interdisciplinary leaders in industry, research, and education as they discussed the vital applications of green chemistry in fostering a Circular Economy.
October 16th, 2024 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM AET
Talk Recordings:
Prof Colin Barrow | Deakin University
Prof Edward Buckingham | Monash Business School
Prof Peter Ralph | University of Technology Sydney
Prof Qin Li | Griffith University

September 2024 Webinar

Introducing our 2024-2025 Connections Organizers and Ambassadors, with Guest Speaker Dr. John Warner!
September 18th, 2024 | 12:00 – 2:00 PM EDT
Join us this September to kick off the 2024-2025 Green Chemistry Connections webinar series! Hosted with intersectionality and accessibility in mind, this year’s series will be operating between the AUS and EDT timezones. At this session, you will hear from the team working to bring together this international community, attend a talk from Dr. John Warner, and of course enjoy networking in the breakout rooms with your fellow green chemistry and sustainability community members. Read more about our amazing team of organizers and ambassadors on our people page, linked here.

Use This Not That: Safer Substitutions for Methylene Chloride
2024-09-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
From the Lab Safety Institute:
Join our webinar on September 27th at 11:00 AM EST to explore the latest TSCA regulations on methylene chloride and their impact on lab practices. Learn practical strategies for substituting methylene chloride in research and school labs and discover effective methods for finding safer, green chemistry alternatives with our expert partners, Beyond Benign.

More about the Lab Safety Initiative’s Methylene Chloride Webinar Series:
This webinar series will focus on actionable steps to comply with the EPA TSCA final rule on methylene chloride. Walking through the hierarchy of controls, each installment will focus on a hazard control method (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative, PPE) applicable to laboratory handling of this common reagent.
The webinar series will help participants:

Meet the EPA TSCA regulatory requirements
Provide guidance on selecting safer alternatives to methylene chloride
Update processes to promote safety and minimize exposure by developing exposure control plans (ECPs)
Offer practical strategies for managing exposure, implementing safety controls, and maintaining compliance documentation

Designed for anyone in academia or industry who uses methylene chloride, this webinar series offers essential strategies to navigate new regulatory landscapes and enhance laboratory safety culture.

Sustainable Momentum: Building Connections from Lab to Life, hosted by NOBCChE
2024-09-30 - 2024-10-03 | Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Florida
Official Event Description
It is our pleasure to invite you to attend NOBCChE’s 51st Annual Meeting, September 30-October 3, 2024 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. Each year, the Annual Conference provides opportunities for networking and mentorship between students of all levels and professionals. In addition, the conference creates a venue for scientific dialogue through technical programming, as well as personal and professional development for students and early/mid-career professionals. Some of our signature events include the Winifred Burks-Houck Luncheon, the Percy Julian Luncheon, and the NOBCChE Awards Ceremony!

Green and Sustainable Chemistry for the Improvement of Life- Supporting the Incorporation of Green Chemistry in the Undergraduate Curriculum
By Dr. Deborah Bromfield-Lee and Dr. Monica Nyansa
October 1st, 2024 | Gatlin E5, Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, Orlando FL
Beyond Benign, a global nonprofit, recognized for its advocacy in green chemistry education, champions the integration of green chemistry and sustainable practices into chemistry curricula through collaborative development and dissemination of resources through its flagship programs, the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) and the newly launched online Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) platform. Both the GCC and GCTLC aim to empower educators to cultivate a generation of scientists adept at addressing global challenges, including those from underrepresented communities, through sustainable chemistry practices. The goal of this session is to empower professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to integrate green chemistry and sustainability principles into their chemistry curriculum, aligning with the 2023 American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Guidelines for Bachelor’s Degree Program, which state as a critical requirement that, to maintain or obtain ACS approval, the curriculum must provide students with a working knowledge of the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry. Furthermore, this session serves as a call to action for professionals to become agents of change in training scientists from underrepresented communities and invites them into the creation process. During the session, attendees will gain insights into practical approaches for integrating green chemistry into undergraduate chemistry programs. The discussion will also address common barriers to implementation and highlight available resources from Beyond Benign to support educators on their green chemistry and sustainability journey, including the newly launched online Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) platform.
This session is intended for young professionals, Mid-Career professionals, Distinguished professionals and senior graduate students.

The Relevance of Sustainable Laboratory Practices and Green Labs
2024-10-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Join IUPAC CHEMRAWN and Beyond Benign in a webinar featuring Thomas Freese (University of Groningen, Netherlands) to discuss sustainable laboratory practices. In this event, guidelines and hands-on advice on how to make your laboratory greener at research institutions and industry will be presented, as well as examples of achieving systemic change for a sustainable future. If you have any questions in advance for Thomas, feel free to add them in below! We are looking forward to seeing you there!

(GCC SIGNERS ONLY) Greener Curriculum Showcase Series: Introduction of a Superfund Site Case Study Workshop to Supplement the Teaching of Toxicology
2024-10-11 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
GCC Signer Exclusive Event
This free, virtual workshop is designed to help educators effectively adapt and implement the Superfund Site Case Study, which focuses on the historical and toxicological impact of the chemical industry and the opportunities that green chemistry provides to reduce hazards and avoid unintended consequences.
The Case Study will help instructors introduce students to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Program, enabling them to better understand the history of the chemical industry. Additionally, the resource will delve into the toxicology associated with chemicals released into the environment, teaching students how to avoid the use of certain types of chemicals through greener innovations and green chemistry. Educators will receive guidance on creating their own resources based on Superfund sites within their regions, adding relevance for students and connecting them with their local communities.
During the session, facilitators will guide participants through the resources, offer practical strategies for adaptation and implementation, and provide opportunities for educators to share insights. The 1.5-hour virtual workshop will include group-based learning, discussions, networking opportunities, and a Q&A session.

The goals for the workshop include:

Educate participants on the U.S. EPA Superfund Program and its importance.
Guide participants on practical approaches to effectively incorporate the case study materials into their curriculum.
Empower participants to adapt and implement the case study resources and expand their professional network.

We hope you’ll join us for this workshop! Limited seats are available, so registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register in advance by signing up below so we can save you a spot. We’ll send the Zoom link and more details closer to the event date.

#LatinXChem24
2024-10-14 - 2024-10-15
What is #LatinXChem?
@LatinXChem is a virtual forum through which the community of Latin American chemists located anywhere in the world can share and discuss their research results and advances.
​More than 1200 posters from 43 countries were received in its first version, with 20 million impacts on Twitter.
​The fifth event organized by @LatinXChem will be the #LatinXChem23 Conference (October 14 and 15, 2024).

Advantages

​You can participate whether you work at home or in the laboratory.
​Being a virtual event, you do not need to travel, the costs decrease substantially, without demerit to the quality of the work or to the scientific discussion they will generate. Additionally, its environmental footprint is lower.
For each category, the best works will be selected for an award. Our sponsors will deliver prizes (book vouchers) for 100-200 USD. The best poster overall for the event will be awarded a special prize (150 USD) and one prize for the most popular work (150 USD).

Follow-up Steps

Posters can be presented in Spanish, Portuguese, or English.​​
Tweet your poster. Include the title, abstract, your category hashtag, and the main event hashtag (#LatinXChem24) at 12:00 pm (UTC) on October 14, 2024; The event will last 48 hours.​
Discuss and share your work on any social media. Make sure to respond to questions from the community and juries.
Choose any dimension or format for your poster: the important point is that the text and figures are legible. We strongly recommend visualizing it on Twitter before the conference.

Observe, Wonder, Think
2024-10-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
This year we are focusing on K-12 teacher peer collaboration. You are our best resource. There will be space for teachers to bring the resources, labs, lessons, articles that they are seeking to implement. What are the things you are learning as you implement? What challenges are you facing as you implement green chemistry in your classroom and lab? What has really worked well for you? Are there elements of your lessons/labs that you really need help with before implementation? Come and talk with your K-12 peers in the Green Chemistry Community of Practice. We are here to support, accompany, encourage and learn together. We will have speakers periodically to share what has worked in their classrooms, or to share lab safety tips. Register to attend. Only speaker sessions will be recorded, included with registration.
Esther Hines, retired chemistry teacher, ACS mentor and coach, adjunct chemistry faculty, will facilitate Observe Wonder Think monthly, third Thursdays, at alternating evening times.

Observe, Wonder, Think: April 2025

Educators in applied sciences! Watch this recording of our April 2025 Observe, Wonder, Think webinar. In this video, experienced educator Annette Sebuyira, will share an introduction to green chemistry through the lens of toxicology. During this virtual session, we’ll dive into an NGSS/NYSSLS-aligned lesson, expanding content knowledge and the knowledge and skills necessary to provide developmentally appropriate instructional strategies and assess student progress. We’ll also explore challenges, as students would, using the Olin Chemical Superfund Site as a case study. The lens of toxicology will guide decisions of how and why certain reagents are chosen for our lab performances.

Observe, Wonder, Think: March 2025

In this session, Sarah shares her expertise in chemical management and disposal, gained from her experience as a high school science teacher, college laboratory instructor, and institutional laboratory safety specialist at a large university. She dives into essential topics like common safety concerns with chemical storage and disposal, effective chemical inventory management strategies, and best practices for working in shared stock rooms. Additionally, she explorse how the principles of green chemistry can be used to address these challenges, providing practical solutions for safer and more sustainable lab environments.

Observe, Wonder, Think: February 2025

More and more educators are pursuing equitable grading practices as they realize the numerous inequities that exist within education. Beyond Benign is calling in educators, who care deeply about serving their students, to explore the best learning environment for their development in a chemistry classroom.
Watch this Observe, Wonder, Think session and explore what grading for equity in a chemistry class can look like. In this webinar, we are joined by special guest Raksmey Derival, a high school science teacher, science ambassador, and program director at Innovation Academy Charter School.

Observe, Wonder, Think: January 2025

K-12 teachers: watch this special webinar on social justice science issues featuring Nina Hike, a leader in chemistry education and a 2021 Illinois finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.
This interactive webinar explores the intersection of environmental justice and green chemistry, providing insights into the future of green chemistry education.

Observe, Wonder, Think: December 2024

K-12 teachers: watch this special webinar with Dr. Elizabeth Braun of the Labratory Safety Institute! During this virtual session, Dr. Braun shares the Safer Science Framework, designed to empower educators with the tools they need to create hazard-free, sustainable lab environments.
By addressing outdated chemicals and integrating holistic safety practices, this framework enables teachers to confidently explore Green Chemistry, fostering safer, greener classrooms that align with national standards like NGSS.

2024 Innovators' Roundtable
2024-10-28 - 2024-10-30 | Beaverton, Oregon
The 2024 Innovators Roundtable will be an opportunity for Change Chemistry members and non-members to engage with leading innovators, investors, and government officials in the green and sustainable chemistry space.
Structured as a series of dialogues exploring topics, the gathering will provide attendees with opportunities to meet and engage with key players from across the globe. This will be a hybrid event so both virtual and in-personregistration tickets are available.
The 2024 Innovators Roundtable will be hosted by Nike in Beaverton, Oregon and will consist of participants from companies across sectors and the value chain as well as consultants, academics, government, and non-profits.

Please contact info@changechemistry.org for more information.

Green Chemistry Commitment Info Session
2024-10-30 12:00 - 13:00
Green Chemistry Commitment Info Session

October 30th | 12 – 1 p.m. EDT

Beyond Benign is excited to invite all educators, students, and staff from higher education institutions to a Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) Info Session on October 30th, 2024. At this virtual session, we will hear from Glenn Hurst, a Professor of Green Chemistry Education at the University of York. Glenn will share how collaborating with students can foster sustainable change, how the GCC supports the University of York’s green chemistry goals, and more.
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 for this 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 Professor Glenn Hurst:
Glenn Hurst is a professor of green chemistry education at the University of York, where he specializes in applying systems thinking-based approaches for green chemistry instruction at all levels. He has made several important contributions to engaging students with green chemistry through the development of resources, modules, and programs that have been adopted internationally. In recognition of these achievements, he has been the recipient of multiple honors and is regularly invited to present his work internationally. Read his article “Student partnerships for sustainable change” here.

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 for this 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 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.

Who: Higher education faculty, students, staff, and their peers (GCC signer status not required!).
What: A chance for you to learn more about the GCC and hear from a GCC champion.
When: October 30th, 2024, from 12 to 1 p.m. EDT
Where: Online—register below! Meeting details will be sent after registration.
