Student and community leaders gathered for a Green Chemistry Commitment signing celebration at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Pictured from left to right: Tyler Rotholz (Q-ACS), Rachel Wood (Q-ACS), Rachel Korchinsky (Q-ACS), Giovanni Brito (Q-ACS), Dr. John Warner (Beyond Benign), Dr. Philip Jessop (Queen’s University), Max van Zyl (Q-ACS), Dr. Juliana Vidal (Beyond Benign), and Dr. Hriday Bhattacharjee (Q-ACS).
Beyond Benign was thrilled to welcome Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, to the growing Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) program in 2024. The GCC is a framework created to expand and unite the global higher education community practicing green chemistry. Students, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels, play an integral role in advancing green chemistry and helping to bring the GCC to their campuses. The article below, contributed by Rachel Korchinsky and GCC Community Ambassador Giovanni Brito, is an excellent example of student leadership. Read the article to learn how the Queen’s University International Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society is advancing green chemistry through the GCC and other initiatives.
Contributed by Rachel S. Korchinsky and José Giovanni L. Brito
The Queen’s University International Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society (Q-ACS) hosted a special ceremony in Chernoff Hall on May 6, 2025, to celebrate a significant milestone: the Queen’s Department of Chemistry has officially become a signer of the Beyond Benign Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC). Q-ACS played a pivotal role in this achievement.
Recognized as an Outstanding Student Chapter for two consecutive years (2022-2023 and 2023-2024) and the 2024-2025 Alma Mater Society Club of the Year, Q-ACS strives for excellence across its activities, events, and outreach. Q-ACS is deeply committed to advancing professional and technical development while promoting inclusion and belonging within the Queen’s chemical community. By supporting the Department of Chemistry in becoming a GCC signer, Q-ACS has played a pivotal role in raising awareness of green chemistry, an effort that will benefit students and the chemical community at large, whether they pursue careers in academia or industry. Motivated by a strong commitment to sustainability, many members of Q-ACS align their research with the United Nations’ Sustainability Goals, emphasizing the importance of green chemistry as a pathway to a more sustainable and equitable world.
“Signing the Green Chemistry Commitment marks a meaningful milestone in advancing green chemistry education at Queen’s University,” says Rachel Korchinsky, Ph.D. ’26, Vice President of Q-ACS. “It is essential that future generations of chemists approach their work through a green chemistry lens, which was emphasized throughout Dr. Warner’s inspiring seminar. Through the collaboration and support of many, especially Dr. Philip Jessop and the team at Beyond Benign, this achievement was made possible.”
The highlight of the GCC signing ceremony was a keynote address by Beyond Benign Co-Founder Dr. John Warner, who is a co-founder of the green chemistry movement and the CEO & CTO of Technology Greenhouse. Introduced by Jessop, Canada Research Chair in Green Chemistry and Chemistry Department Head at Queen’s University, Warner delivered the inspiring talk, “Green Chemistry as the Foundation of Sustainability and the Circular Economy.” His address emphasized that while much attention is paid to why sustainability matters and what frameworks exist to measure it, green chemistry addresses the critical how. By integrating sustainability into the earliest stages of research and development, scientists can ensure that their work has a lasting, positive impact. Warner concluded the ceremony by formally presenting the GCC certificate, symbolizing Queen’s University’s official recognition as a leader in sustainable chemical education, followed by a complimentary networking lunch hosted by Q-ACS.
Dr. John Warner (left) delivered the talk “Green Chemistry as the Foundation of Sustainability and the Circular Economy” during the Queen’s University Green Chemistry Commitment Signing Ceremony.
“Being a Green Chemistry Commitment Ambassador myself and also a graduate student doing research on Green Chemistry, seeing Dr. Warner in person in our Department of Chemistry hit me in a substantial and meaningful way,” says Giovanni Brito, PhD ’25, Q-ACS Treasurer. “He is one of the most reputable and respected researchers in the field, so I felt really grateful to learn directly from him and to witness attentively his passion and vision. In addition to this, we at Q-ACS could not thank enough the wonderful and unwavering support coming from Beyond Benign. Dr. Juliana Vidal in particular played a vital role in helping us coordinate Dr. Warner’s visit, for which our Chapter is indebted.”
Q-ACS continues to advocate for green chemistry through active outreach efforts and collaboration. The Chapter has partnered with the Green Chemistry Initiative at the University of Toronto and Green Chemistry McGill to collaborate on the 2025 Green Chemistry Initiative Symposium, themed “Thinking Green(er) in Daily Life,” which was hosted at the University of Toronto from May 7-9, 2025. Dr. Hriday Bhattacharjee, the Professional Development Director of Q-ACS, says, “We diligently work to integrate and provide opportunities to the chemical community at Queen’s through various events throughout the year.”
Additionally, Q-ACS will be facilitating the “Which Is Greener?” series in collaboration with Jessop. This series is designed to educate the public on the sustainability of consumer products and to answer the question: Which is greener? “It’s just one part of Q-ACS’s outreach efforts, but it is a meaningful way to engage with the community and encourage greener thinking in everyday decisions,” says Rachel Wood, MSc ’25, Q-ACS Public Outreach Director.
In recognition of its ongoing efforts, Q-ACS has been invited by the Chemical Institute of Canada’s Green Division to be featured for its green chemistry initiatives at the Canadian Society for Chemistry 2025 conference. The Chapter will be highlighted in the workshop, “Bring Green Chemistry into Your Lab: A Workshop for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows.” Tyler Rotholz, CHEM-P-BSH ’26, the Undergraduate Affiliate of Q-ACS, says, “It’s very exciting to be a part of Q-ACS, as every member is dedicated to exemplifying a standard of excellence; I feel fortunate to contribute to events and initiatives like these.”
Through these initiatives and many more to come, Q-ACS ensures that green chemistry at Queen’s University is highlighted, constantly shedding light on and educating others about the importance of making a sustainable future for all.
How to get involved:
- Keep up with Q-ACS on social media! Follow the chapter on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
- Not yet part of the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC)? Learn how your institution can become a signer and provide students with essential skills and training for today’s workforce.
- Subscribe to Beyond Benign’s newsletter for the latest updates from the green chemistry community.