Integrating sustainability into the STEM disciplines at Bridgewater State College

CHED 13

Edward J. Brush, ebrush@bridgew.edu, Department of Chemical Sciences, Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA 02325
Bridgewater State College (BSC) recently launched a Center for Sustainability that has had an immediate impact on the BSC community through its inventory of campus sustainability initiatives; support for curriculum development and student projects; sponsoring speakers, workshops and panel discussions; and conducting outreach with the regional community. A unique component was support for a STEM Sustainability Initiative. This initiative helped catalyze meetings of STEM faculty to discuss common interests related to sustainability, and identify potential interdisciplinary collaborations. This presentation will focus on two ongoing workshops: “Energy and the Environment,” and “Integrated Green/Sustainable Chemistry.” The latter project involves collaboration between faculty, staff, and students to integrate chemical sustainability into teaching, research, K-12 outreach, and departmental operations. Our goal is to prepare the next generation of creative, innovative and socially responsible chemists who will be the future teachers, researchers, government officials, and entrepreneurs in the sustainable chemistry enterprise.