Green chemistry education: Toward a green day

CHED 467

Mary M. Kirchhoff, m_kirchhoff@acs.org, Education Division, American Chemical Society, 1155 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Green chemistry began infiltrating the curriculum in the late 1990's when several enterprising faculty members started introducing greener laboratory experiments, stand-alone courses, and green chemistry modules into their teaching. Widespread coverage of this important topic, however, has been slow to catch on. This is not unusual in education, as curriculum reform is frequently evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. In light of the increasing pressures placed on the planet by humanity, the need to develop a cadre of chemistry professionals who are poised to develop and implement green chemistry practices is more important than ever. This presentation will highlight positive trends in green chemistry education and will consider opportunities for future development.