The Green Chemistry Initiative’s contributions to education at the University of Toronto and beyond

Waked, Alexander E.; Demmans, Karl Z.; Hems, Rachel F.; Reyes, Laura M.; Mallov, Ian; Daley, Erika N.; Hoch, Laura; Mastronardi, Melanie L.; Franier, Brian De La; Borduas-Dedekind, Nadine; Dicks, Andrew P.

doi:10.1080/17518253.2019.1609597

Cited by 10 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…As clarity is created around green and sustainable chemistry concepts in the curriculum, there is a need for high-quality educational materials that support educators. There are a variety of institutions creating degree programs and curriculum for educating students in green and sustainable chemistry. − ,− There are also organizations that are working to create green chemistry content, and these materials are generally available. ,− These materials are to a greater or lesser extent seen as being developed from the perspective of adding onto existing curriculum, not from the perspective of teaching specific and traditional chemistry concepts from a green and sustainable chemistry perspective. It is this type of material that needs to be developed, and these materials should be widely and readily available to educators.…”

Section: Next Steps For the Road Mapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a Green and Sustainable Chemistry Education Road Map

et al. 2020

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Although principles and practices of green and sustainable chemistry have been articulated for more than 20 years, they have yet to become systemically infused into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. The American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI) has convened stakeholders from across the chemistry education community to develop a strategy and, subsequently, a road map for mainstreaming green and sustainable chemistry concepts and practices into the chemistry curriculum. Through this initiative, a set of core competencies were developed to guide infusion of green and sustainable chemistry knowledge and skills into the curriculum and prepare chemists to make significant contributions to sustainability in the future. The core competencies are described briefly here as well as strategic efforts to develop the road map and to aid the adoption of green and sustainable chemistry into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum.

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Section: Next Steps For the Road Mapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a Green and Sustainable Chemistry Education Road Map

et al. 2020

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“…15 In 2012, a graduate student-led organization was established known as the Green Chemistry Initiative. 16 This group of highly motivated students began to organize activities and outreach events that promoted green chemistry awareness among undergraduates, within graduate research programs, and in the community at large. By that time, the departmental attitude toward promoting sustainability in chemistry education jump-started a modernization at all levels of undergraduate teaching from large introductory classes to more applied courses.…”

Section: History Of Green Chemistry Education At the University Of To...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the last seven years, the Green Chemistry Initiative (GCI) has had many positive impacts on the culture of laboratory work in the Department of Chemistry and beyond. 16 Formed by an initial coalition of several graduate students, the GCI has grown to become an extremely vibrant organization of 20 members, of whom some are undergraduates. The three central aims of the GCI are as follows: (i) to increase appreciation of green chemistry both inside and outside the University of Toronto; (ii) to promote sustainable laboratory practices; and (iii) to decrease the environmental impact of chemistry research.…”

Section: Initiativementioning

confidence: 99%

A Systems Thinking Department: Fostering a Culture of Green Chemistry Practice among Students

et al. 2019

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Green chemistry and sustainability concepts have been woven into the University of Toronto undergraduate curriculum for almost two decades. This has been achieved through (i) development of expository, discovery-based, and student-directed laboratory experiments; (ii) evolution of several upper-year courses; and (iii) strategic integration of these components into two academic programs. In conjunction with the establishment of a graduate student-run organization known as the Green Chemistry Initiative who assists with curricular redesign, a committed departmental attitude has developed toward sustainability education. The notion of systems thinking (where links are forged between varying systemic components which affect each other in different ways, and separate components are considered as a whole) influences both specific green instructional practices and the broader Department of Chemistry approach to sustainable education and research. This article outlines the departmental mindset in relation to green chemistry, and how systems thinking has inherently informed the progress made. The connection between systems thinking and green chemistry is solidified through discussion of the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) learning objectives. The GCC is a voluntary initiative designed by a nonprofit organization (Beyond Benign) to assist in the preparation of chemists whose skills are aligned with the needs of the planet and its inhabitants in the 21st century.

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“…Graduate students in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto organized the Green Chemistry Initiative in 2012 to promote green and sustainable chemistry education and research by providing green chemistry education resources. 8 Institutions such as Westminster College in Pennsylvania, U.S., have also incorporated undergraduate green chemistry courses 9 into their programs, and several green chemistry laboratories 10 and integrate green chemistry practices into undergraduate laboratories. In one example, Purcell et al designed and implemented a multiweek analytical chemistry experiment where essential oils were extracted from thyme leaves and studied for their antimicrobial activity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within North America, green chemistry has been implemented in education in various ways. Graduate students in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto organized the Green Chemistry Initiative in 2012 to promote green and sustainable chemistry education and research by providing green chemistry education resources . Institutions such as Westminster College in Pennsylvania, U.S., have also incorporated undergraduate green chemistry courses into their programs, and several green chemistry laboratories − have been developed to promote green chemistry initiatives and integrate green chemistry practices into undergraduate laboratories.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cinnamon Oil: An Alternate and Inexpensive Resource for Green Chemistry Experiments in Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Abraham

Stachow

2020

J. Chem. Educ.

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We report a series of experiments based upon cinnamon oil that were developed to provide a practical integration of green and sustainable chemistry concepts for the organic chemistry laboratory. Five experiments centering around cinnamaldehyde as a green, plant-based chemical were performed by undergraduate students in a second-year organic chemistry class. Cinnamon oil was obtained through hydrodistillation, and cinnamaldehyde was used to demonstrate the use of a secondary metabolite in chemistry laboratories. Subsequently, a reduction reaction, aldol reaction, and Schiff base formation were carried out. Through these experiments, students are able to practice techniques such as thin-layer chromatography, column chromatography, recrystallization, and measurement of melting points along with UV, FTIR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Microscale practices were employed in each of the reactions, and microscale column chromatography was used for purifications. The final experiment was an antimicrobial activity assessment of cinnamon oil and the cinnamaldehyde derivatives obtained from the previous experiments. Along with an interdisciplinary component, students were exposed to sunscreen chemistry and were led to consider the many uses of each product obtained. These experiments were based upon a single, inexpensive plant metabolite and biobased material to educate students about green chemistry and its practical applications in the undergraduate laboratory.

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The Green Chemistry Initiative’s contributions to education at the University of Toronto and beyond

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

Toward a Green and Sustainable Chemistry Education Road Map

Toward a Green and Sustainable Chemistry Education Road Map

A Systems Thinking Department: Fostering a Culture of Green Chemistry Practice among Students

Cinnamon Oil: An Alternate and Inexpensive Resource for Green Chemistry Experiments in Organic Chemistry Laboratory

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