As the community of educators and institutions integrating green chemistry grows, more students are learning a sustainable approach to science. These students represent the next generation of innovators, environmental stewards, and scientists who will use their green chemistry skills and lived experiences to address local and global sustainability challenges.
Beyond Benign provides educators with the tools, training, and support needed to integrate green chemistry in their classrooms and labs. As part of this mission, Beyond Benign and partners developed the Green Chemistry Education Awards for K-12 and higher education. The awards for higher education provide funding and guidance for educators at Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) signer institutions as they embark on projects such as curriculum redesign, outreach activities, collaborations, and awareness initiatives.
Three of the 2023-2024 recipients are GCC Signer Minority Serving Institutions, which are bringing green chemistry to diverse student populations. By expanding green chemistry use on these three campuses, the awards give more students an opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and deepen their awareness of sustainable practices—tools they can carry into their professional work.
Three educators leading these initiatives recently shared updates on how they are expanding the use of green chemistry principles to help prepare the next generation of world-class chemists with skills to create innovative environmental solutions. Get an overview of the initiatives and links to a deeper dive on each below:
At California State University, San Marcos, Associate Professor Dr. Robert G. Iafe is coordinating the university’s efforts to develop a green chemistry minor by adding courses, assessment strategies, and public awareness seminars. He says the green chemistry initiative has helped students develop a new sense of purpose and enthusiasm. “Many of our students come from communities that are disproportionately impacted by environmental issues, so when they see chemistry as a means of creating safer materials, cleaner technologies, and more equitable systems, it becomes more than just a course—it becomes personally meaningful and empowering,” he says.
At Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Dr. Adalgisa Batista Parra, Professor of Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Researcher, is leading efforts to redesign the undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory curriculum. This includes incorporating green chemistry principles with the goal of aligning instruction with emerging trends in sustainable chemistry education while actively reducing environmental impact. She says green chemistry sparked meaningful discussions among students about their role in shaping a more sustainable future. “This project is about more than just redesigning lab experiments—it’s about planting the seeds of a cultural shift toward sustainability in science education and beyond.”
At Stella and Charles Guttman Community College, Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Jihyun (Ji) Kim is redesigning a classic organic chemistry experiment—the synthesis of cyclohexene—to emphasize green chemistry principles and provide a safer, more sustainable laboratory experience for students at the two-year college. She says the green chemistry concepts help students see how chemistry can be a tool for environmental responsibility. “One of the most encouraging outcomes of this project was the level of student engagement with green chemistry concepts, particularly as they connected sustainability to real-world issues,” Ji says.
Learn more about the Green Chemistry Education Awards and see a full list of 2023-2024 award recipients.
How to get involved:
- Higher education leaders: Join the Green Chemistry Commitment to provide students with essential skills and training for today’s workforce.
- Connect with your peers in the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community, an online space for everyone in the green chemistry community to learn, share, connect, and grow.
- Subscribe to Beyond Benign’s newsletter to get green chemistry news, opportunities, and resources delivered to your inbox monthly.
