25th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference Call for Symposia

[ACSGCI]

The American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute® (ACS GCI) is pleased to announce the call for symposia for the 25^th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference. The Conference will be held June 14-16, 2021, in Reston, Virginia.

Conference Theme

Sustainable Production to Advance the Circular Economy is the 2021 conference theme. This theme directly links to U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, and reflects the role of chemistry and engineering in creating a closed-loop economy for a sustainable future. Similar to previous conferences, the Committee is interested in proposals spanning the breadth and depth of green and sustainable chemistry and engineering.

The Conference Organizing Committee seeks proposals that:

• Provide diverse perspectives from academic, industrial and government scientists, business leaders, students and NGO representatives.
• Deliver creatively designed sessions that are highly interactive (e.g., facilitate lively discussion, include sufficient time for Q&A, rapid-fire sessions, and workshop-based learning).
• Provide attendees leaving each session with a clear idea of how they can leverage the outcomes professionally.
• Describe how these outcomes will be achieved in the session and provide potential speakers or topics of presentations.

Topics Include, But Are Not Limited To, The Following:

• Design strategies incorporating systems and life cycle thinking and how these are used to make more sustainable, renewable and recyclable chemicals, chemistries and processes.
• Success stories in using sustainable production strategies and methodologies in chemical design, synthesis pathways, process, and product design.
• Designing and developing processes and products that facilitate sustainability and achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Design and development of curricula and curricular materials that infuse green and sustainable chemistry concepts (e.g., circular economy, systems thinking, LCI/A, function-based design, etc.) throughout the chemistry curriculum.
• Design of chemicals, novel chemistries, synthetic pathways, and processes that enable a circular, more sustainable economy.
• The design of materials that enable a closed-loop, more sustainable economy in:
  • The built environment (e.g., homes, offices, manufacturing, etc.)
  • Apparel and footwear
  • Electronics
  • Materials assembly (i.e., automotive, aerospace, etc.)
  • Packaging
• Fundamental scientific advances that enable separation and conversion of water or by-products to valuable materials.
• Innovative approaches to:
  • Collaborations between government, academia and industry that promote more sustainable design
  • Government policy that enables the closed-loop economy
  • Tools for process and product design and simulation
  • Green and sustainable chemistry and engineering metrics that facilitate better design-thinking
  • Assessment methodologies that enable design for the closed-loop economy
• Topics in green chemistry and engineering unrelated to the theme are also welcome.

Proposals Should Include the Following Information:

• A brief statement describing the rationale/need for this topic at the meeting (500 words or less).
• A description of how the gaps in current practice will be addressed during the symposium. The description should focus on how addressing these gaps will advance green chemistry and engineering in this area.
• A list of proposed speakers (with affiliations), anticipated topics of the presentations and the proposed mix of invited and contributed presentations.
• Plans/methods for creating an interactive environment during the session. Workshops and panel discussions are encouraged.

Green Chemistry & Engineering Diversity, Inclusion & Respect Statement

Diversity, Inclusion & Respect are core values of the American Chemical Society and the ACS Green Chemistry Institute. We are committed to promoting an inclusive, diverse, and respectful conference for participants, organizers, and attendees. We recognize the shared responsibility needed for a safe and productive meeting environment regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, religion, race, or nationality.  All GC&E participants are expected to treat others with respect to facilitate open dialogue and effective discussions.

We ask that symposia coordinators be mindful of the following guidelines as they are finalizing their speaker lists for GC&E.

Aim to:

–    Include a minimum of 30% of under-represented groups (including women and People of Color)

–    Incorporate expertise from a range of geographic locations

–    Include speakers from all stages of career

–    Include diverse stakeholder perspectives from across the chemistry enterprise, where appropriate

Please submit your symposia proposal to gci@acs.org with the subject line “2021 GC&E Symposia Proposal” by October 9, 2020. All symposia submissions will be reviewed by the Conference Organizing Committee and applicants will be notified of decisions by November 20, 2020. If you have questions, please contact us at the email address above.

We’re looking forward to creating an exciting event as we convene a diverse scientific community to advance green chemistry and engineering research, education and sustainable technologies.

Stay safe and healthy!

The ACS Green Chemistry Institute ®