Green chemistry education curriculum development

Julie A. Haack is a senior instructor and assistant department head for chemistry at the University of Oregon, where her work has focused on the incorporation of green chemistry principles into the introductory chemistry curriculum for both science and nonscience majors. She is a leader in facilitating the identification, development, and dissemination of green chemistry educational materials throughout the chemistry curriculum. 

To sustain the development of new green chemistry curriculum and tools, a network of faculty has been formed to promote a collaborative approach to preparation of new materials. The Green Chemistry Education Network (GCEdNet) (35) began in 2004 with five ambassador faculty members located... 

We have pointed out future directions for curriculum development in green chemistry in a previous review. Key areas that need addressing in a broader sense in green chemistry education include the following ... 

In order to help insure that we develop a sustainable world, it is imperative that we bring the tenets of sustainability to the people of the planet. As chemists, we can have a considerable influence on the progress that we make toward this goal by both what we practice and what we preach . We must view all chemistry with the goal to make it greener. In order to implant this view in a student s psyche, it is necessary to infuse green chemistry across the curriculum. Educators need to look at all the materials (particularly textbooks) they use, and consider how they can infuse sustainable chemistry into the discussion. 

Green chemistry in higher education implies an institutional mission that integrates this new chemistry concept in all aspects of campus life, from curriculum, research, and community outreach to governance, operations, and professional development. Green chemistry can be defined in many contexts such as sustainability producing... 

In order to achieve success in sustainable education, there is an urgent need for education programmes based on sustainable development curriculum for use in teacher training. Such training will allow teachers to use interdisciplinary approaches to integrate sustainable development and green chemistry principles into the different subjects of the formal school curriculum. 

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