In a virtual lecture session on April 12, Penn State Shenango Teaching Professor of Science Kathy Shaffer presented on the topic of “Incorporating green chemistry into introductory general chemistry laboratories and course-based undergraduate research experiences.” The lecture was part of a series of virtual sessions sponsored by the Two-Year College Chemistry Consortium, College Chemistry Canada, and ChemEd Xchange for science and chemistry educators from the United States and Canada.
Green chemistry is a practice that aims to design chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. It can be applied throughout the life cycle of a chemical product, from design to disposal. At Shenango campus, there is a commitment to implementing green chemistry into the curriculum through the Beyond Benign Green Chemistry Commitment, which provides a framework for incorporating green chemistry into higher education.
Under Shaffer’s leadership, Shenango’s introductory general chemistry laboratory courses have been transitioning from traditional experiments to ones that integrate the principles of green chemistry. Lecture attendees had the opportunity to learn about the experiments introduced in the general chemistry laboratory courses and examples of course-based undergraduate research projects that have applied green chemistry principles.
Shaffer expressed appreciation for the opportunity to share how green chemistry is being incorporated into the chemistry curriculum at Shenango. With recent updates in American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training guidelines to include green chemistry as a critical requirement within coursework, there is expected to be increased interest in green chemistry moving forward.
During her lecture, Shaffer also provided resources to assist educators as they begin to integrate green chemistry principles into their courses. This initiative aims to promote environmentally friendly practices in chemical education and research for a more sustainable future.
Overall, Shaffer’s presentation provided valuable insights on how introducing green chemistry principles into introductory general
