Our students, as future scientists, need training in green and sustainable chemistry to tackle global challenges like climate change and ecological collapse, yet these topics are severely lacking in chemistry curricula. Meaningful integration of these topics into chemistry classrooms requires a flexible approach that sees learning outcomes and content adapted, replaced, or reoriented around new goals. This presentation will describe approaches that focus on (i) impact, rather than mass-based, metrics, (ii) molecular design and its role in critical thinking about reactivity, and (iii) the importance of integrated and authentic assessment.<br/><br/>Yet even with these approaches and despite significant recent efforts by the Chemistry Education Research and Green Chemistry communities, there are still many challenges inhibiting curricular reform. Our research shows that some major barriers to chemistry educators are time, the already overcrowded content, lack of knowledge about green chemistry, concerns about ‘rigour,’ and the educator’s mindset about green or sustainable chemistry. This presentation will provide context for these barriers and suggest ways for us to move forward.

Barriers and solutions for the integration of green & sustainable chemistry into the undergraduate curriculum

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.