Green Chemistry Joins College Curriculum

Cambridge College professor James Stephen Lee, right, uses specimens including a brood of fish affected by growth hormones, center, during a class in green chemistry at the school in Cambridge, Mass., Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. The American Chemical Society, which certifies more than 600 college chemistry programs, lists only about a dozen that teach green chemistry, though the number is growing. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds) (Josh Reynolds - AP)

Anastas points out that feel-good green chemistry is useless unless it is profitable. "Green is also the color of money," he said.

Businesses increasingly are seeking graduates with backgrounds in green chemistry, because it can help them make or save money in the development, manufacturing, disposal and cleanup of products, Anastas said.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. is developing new ways of making drugs that eliminate millions of pounds of waste, and S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.'s has reformulated some consumer cleaning products.

"We need people who can understand not just optimizing their step in the chain, but people who understand the whole worldwide view," said Adam Peterson, a specialty chemicals division manager at Dow Corning Corp.

The chemistry department at the University of Oregon is trying to fill that need by developing a database of green chemistry teaching resources and annually bringing in college and high school chemistry instructors for a summer workshop.

Julie Haack, assistant head of the University of Oregon's chemistry department, estimates the program has educated 130 to 150 teachers since its inception in 2001.

"The workshop is oriented to help people go to their home institutions and build the case for green chemistry opportunities there," she said.

Dana Garves, a junior chemistry major at the University of Oregon, is a believer. She wants to become a high school chemistry teacher.

"I think by learning about and teaching green chemistry, I can open people's eyes and make a difference," she said.

Anastas envisions a day when all chemistry taught in the world's universities is considered green.

"The good news is that this is no longer a theory, it's been demonstrated, it makes money while reducing risks to humans and the environment," Anastas said. "The better news is that so far this is just the tip of the iceberg."

___

On the Net:

EPA site: http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry