Green Chemistry
Education
Green Chemistry Series no.
3
P. Tundo and T. Patti,
eds.
INCA (Interuniversity Consortium "Chemistry for the Environment"),
2002
[ISBN 88-88214-00-5]
The Subcommittee on
Green Chemistry of the Division III of IUPAC, in collaboration with
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), has organised
a Workshop on Green Chemistry Education.
One of the pillars of OECD's Sustainable Chemistry effort is the incorporation
of sustainable chemistry concepts into chemical education, and the provision
of support material to do so. At the joint meeting held on Paris, November
8th 2000, which has the lead for this work within the Sustainable Chemistry
Issue Team, Italy proposed a workshop on education in the context of
sustainable chemistry (called "green" chemistry by IUPAC).
The joint meeting agreed on the value of the workshop, provided IUPAC
has the lead responsibility for the workshop, but the workshop is held
in co-operation with OECD.
The Event held at Auditorium S. Margherita, Ca' Foscari University
of Venice, 12-14 September 2001, was hosted by the Interuniversity Consortium
"Chemistry for the Environment", INCA.
This Workshop was the first one in the world since green chemistry,
and green chemistry education, are still the frontier fields in chemical
sciences.
It was opened to representatives (governmental institutions, academia
and industry, national and international chemical societies, industrial
organisations, environmental institutions and associations, etc.) with
a relevant background on Green Chemistry educational themes. Persons
coming from 23 Countries attended the Workshop.
The Workshop was focused upon the educational aspects of Green Chemistry
and dealt with the following topics:
- Existing government and industry programs (R&D, awards, information,
tools, etc.) useful for incorporating Green Chemistry into the education
systems;
- Existing Green Chemistry educational material, tools, initiatives
and sources;
- Educational areas which address Green Chemistry Education;
- Elaboration and carrying out the Green Chemistry educational programs/projects
with new educational materials/tools;
- Commitments and recommendations necessary to carry out Green Chemistry
educational programs.
This book presents the results of the Workshop. It contains three sections:
the first section is dedicated to the outcomes of the discussion the
five topics, and contains recommendations.
The second one in a table containing a comprehensive list of available
education resources on Green Chemistry Education, divided according
the following categories:
- literature inc. journal articles specific to green chemistry education
- lecture courses not degree courses
- web based materials
- software based tools
- proceedings from workshops and courses
- interactive teaching modules
- public awareness materials
- formal education programs
- laboratory experiments
- exchange programs
- generic funding resources
- industrial resources
- national and international competitions that promote green chemistry
- networking information and resources
The third section is devoted to the survey and its results, and gives
an overview of the needs and the expectations of the worldwide Organisations
present on Venice and operating in the field of Green Chemistry Education.
The Workshop recognised and acknowledged the following future needs:
- in the development of more teaching resources, particularly laboratory
experiments and resource materials for schools (both secondary and
elementary schools)
- for promoting the greening of present textbooks, courses and other
resource materials
- for creating greater awareness of interdisciplinary activities which
involve Green and Sustainable Chemistry
- for encouraging greater industry involvement in the provision and
funding of educational resources
Relevant recommendations reported as a result of the Working Sections
are:
Topic No. 1: Existing government and industry programs (R&D,
awards, information, tools, etc.) useful for incorporating Green Chemistry
into the education systems
RECOMMENDATIONS