Green Chemistry Initiatives Across the Undergraduate Curriculum

Abstract

The responsibility of solving the world’s future environmental problems will fall into the hands of the world’s future scientists. While not all today’s chemistry training will focus on careers related to such issues as renewable energy and pollution prevention, it is imperative that all young chemists be prepared to be green chemists. Just as we train undergraduate chemists to understand basic principles of chemistry, we must also teach them to “think green” and keep an eye on such concepts as the 12 principles of green chemistry [1]. Because green chemistry pervades every field in the discipline, it is possible to infuse the concepts of green chemistry into the entire undergraduate chemistry curriculum. At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, we have taken some initiatives to create a Green Chemistry Initiative Center (GCIC). The GCIC will have a multidisciplinary approach and three objectives: teaching, research training, and community outreach. In the area of teaching, the GCIC will facilitate a change in curriculum through the incorporation of lab experiments based on the green chemistry innovations recognized by the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards between 2000 and 2007, into existing classes [2]. In the area of research training, collaborations with local industries and farms through student internships will enhance learning. Community outreach through arts and other activities with surrounding high schools will be used as an awareness tool and to promote good citizenship.