CHED 120

The ACS SEED project targets economically disadvantaged high school students, often belonging to ethnic groups historically underrepresented in sciences. As stated in the program guidelines, “the intent of Project SEED is to provide students with the opportunity to do meaningful research”. The expectation is that providing such students with the experience of working in an academic research laboratory and developing relationships with mentors will raise the students' goals and expand their horizons.

As can be seen from the above description, the match between Green Chemistry and the ACS SEED project is perfect. The ACS SEED students working in a Green Chemistry laboratory can learn through their own experiences what science is. The students find that science is something they can do, and that science can be done in an environmentally ethical way. Regardless of whether the students will choose to pursue careers in science and technology in the future, these students will never see science as something alien to them or innately detrimental to the environment. In addition, these students may become ambassadors to their communities, including family, friends, and peers, on the behalf of Green Chemistry.

The Center for Green Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Lowell hosts four ACS SEED students per year. Students' work has lead to co-authorship in peer reviewed journals. The mentors' and students' experiences as well as the results of the student's research will be presented.