2022 Advances in Green Chemistry Education
As the recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S.A. exemplified, industry needs to commit to developing safer chemical processes and products derived from renewable sources. As Tickner et al. discuss, the chemicals that form the basis of the world economy were developed and deployed prior to the 1960s when fossil fuels were abundant: this was a time when environmental and health consequences were not widely considered in product development. While these consequences have been addressed via the creation of environmental protection agencies and regulations, the latter are limited in their safeguarding of the environment and our communities. Additionally, the global economy still heavily relies on fossil fuels. Green and sustainable chemistry practices provide the framework that allows the transition of our manufacturing industries away from fossil fuel-derived and hazardous pre-cursor chemicals. The innovations of industry and academia to provide greener technologies is exemplified by the annual Environmental Protection Agency Green Chemistry Challenge winners.
As was the case with the 2019 special issue on “Advances in Green Chemistry Education”, the articles in this Green Chemistry Letters & Reviews special issue were inspired by the plethora of green chemistry teaching papers published every year, green chemistry and sustainability sessions at the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education meetings and at American Chemical Society national meetings. The types of activities discussed include (i) introducing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in high school curricula and general chemistry; (ii) new experiments in the general, organic, and inorganic laboratories; and (iii) a cross-disciplinary project connecting political engagement to sustainable chemistry.
Edited by
Dr. Andrew P. Dicks(Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto)
Dr. Loyd D. Bastin(Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Widener University)
Sponsored by