Helping Incorporate Safe and Sustainability into Materials Research: A Checklist Tool Designed for Early Career Researchers

Abstract

Chemicals and materials with essential and functional uses are central to economic and social well-being. However, the development and application of such items may be challenged when sustainability factors are considered. These are further challenged by disciplinary gaps and concerns over reproducible and responsible research. Here, we detail a checklist for early career researchers on how “to do” research on chemicals, materials, processes, and products in a manner that is safe and sustainable by design. The checklist contains 20 items that are organized into five interconnected sections: (1) think broad and big, (2) set a clear research foundation, (3) focus on quality and reproducibility, (4) flag safe and sustainability issues, and (5) communicate, listen, and learn. Each item can be self-scored on 0–3 scale. This checklist is meant to be a fast tool to help researchers better “think and do” things so that outcomes and outputs may help address societal grand challenges.

A tutorial review for research laboratories to support the vital path toward inherently sustainable and green synthetic chemistry

“…98 In 2022, Bechu and co-workers presented a qualitative checklist which early career or senior researchers can employ to design and guide their research projects with the goal of developing safer and more sustainable products. 99 Within the checklist there are ve sections with 20 items for self-scored assessment. The authors suggest this is completed at the beginning, during and at the end of the research project.…”