More and more chemists are "going green"—thinking about the environment when they design new molecules, compounds and products. Paul Anastas, director of the American Chemical Society's Green Chemistry Institute, will give the first of a series of talks on this theme when he leads off the Frontiers in Chemistry Colloquium at Case Western Reserve University on Thursday, February 23, at 4:30 p.m. in the Goodyear Lecture Hall of the Agnar Pytte Science Center on Adelbert Road. This free, public event, sponsored by the Case chemistry department and Engelhard, is geared toward a general audience interested in learning how chemists are working for a safer environment.
Anastas, a co-author of the "Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry," was named as one of the "2005 Scientific American 50" leaders in science and technology, an honor given for his work in promoting chemists as stewards of the environment.
Emphasizing prevention over waste treatment or cleanup, the Principles identify strategies for reducing the amount of hazardous material that goes into the environment. Some of the strategies involve changes in chemical production techniques, such as using safer solvents and improving energy efficiency. Others focus on changes in the chemical design of the products themselves, so that they will be non-toxic and degradable.
Anastas will discuss these strategies in his February 23 lecture.
Other speakers in the series will be Chao-Jun Li, McGill University, on "Our Future Challenge in Chemical Synthesis," March 2; Berkeley Cue, a retired vice president of pharmaceutical sciences at Pfizer Global Research and Development, on "Green Chemistry in the Pharmaceutical Industry," March 30; and Joseph DeSimone, University of North Carolina, on "Liquid Fluoropolymers: A Gateway to Green Chemistry," April 13. All talks take place at 4:30 p.m. in the Goodyear Lecture Hall.
The Frontiers in Chemistry Colloquium Series, a 65-year-old tradition of Case's chemistry department, highlights the work of world-class researchers, who address some of the most critical challenges facing chemistry and society. Nearly 40 of the colloquium speakers have gone on to win Nobel Prizes for their work in chemistry, including, most recently, Robert Grubbs, a 2000 lecturer, and Richard Schrock, who lectured in 1998 and 2000. Both were awarded Nobel Prizes in 2005.
For information, contact Cather Simpson at 216-368-1911.
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