A parable is defined as a simple short story with a universal truth or lesson to learn.  My parable relates to my journey and trial by fire in China to teach green chemistry as a fundamental driver for societal development.  My parable will focus on my evolution as a teacher molded by the forces that are at odds with each other: ancient traditional Chinese ideals and morales vs. modern ascendancy to world power that spurn its ancient history.  I began to learn how teaching is much more than just dialogue, but a search for a truth whose simplicity is often lost in the translation.  China is accustomed to tradition and authority; a healthy discourse from a human rights/freedoms perspective is very slow in coming and is often non-existent.  The lack of diversity and handicaps in the system often suggest a very dogmatic way of learning and approaching the business of learning (males vs. females, lack of accommodations for handicaps, no modern learning technology, lack of questioning, etc.).  In the end, I will show that green chemistry is the key to their sustainable future, but it needs buy-in from the traditional powers because there really is no sound and solid free enterprise market or true capitalism.

Bridging the Sino-American divide in green chemistry: A parable of overcoming activation barriers in language, creeds, philosophies, diversity, and handicaps

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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