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By Ashley Baker, Scientific Content Manager (Contractor) at the ACS Green Chemistry Institute.
Organized and hosted by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute® since 2003, the Green and Sustainable Chemistry Summer School (GSCSS) has become one of the most impactful training experiences available to students preparing for careers in chemistry and engineering. From June 21-26, 2024, the ACS GCI hosted the 21st GSCSS program at the University of Vermont, welcoming a diverse group of more than 70 participants and thirteen expert instructors. In an exciting recognition of the importance of green chemistry for the economy, innovation, and the community, the governor of Vermont issued an official proclamation declaring it “Green Chemistry Week” across the state. Students in the 2024 cohort came from home institutions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Canada, and the U.S.
The 2024 GSCSS Cohort at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
“The ACS GCI Summer School aims to bridge the geopolitical divide between chemists across the Americas. Students have the opportunity to start building a community that leads to collaborations, friendships, and enriching, impactful careers,” said Adelina Voutchkova, Director of Sustainable Development at ACS. “As an alumna of the Summer School myself, I deeply appreciate this initiative and its alignment with the core mission of the GCI: ‘To catalyze the implementation of innovative approaches to chemistry and engineering that enable sustainable development across the globe.’”
Participants shared their research with GSCSS faculty and fellow students during an interactive poster session.
In addition to interactive group work, poster sessions, and networking opportunities, GSCSS faculty impart knowledge and skills from across a broad spectrum of topics including life cycle analysis, greener laboratory practices, chemical toxicology, metrics for greener synthesis, design of safer chemicals, environmental justice, renewable feedstocks, greener dyes and textiles, and effective communication. Critically, lecturers are open about their personal journeys, modeling success for students from varied backgrounds. Alumni of the program have gone on to become leaders in many fields and provide participants with an extensive network of professional contacts.
“What I liked the most is that everyone who taught spoke first about their background and all the struggles they encountered, and that is an inspiration for me, like, ‘Whatever I might be facing now, I’ll pass it,’” said Elyse Kimpiab, a Ph.D. student at the University of Alabama. “It has been a great experience. Sadly, [we can attend] only once but maybe [current participants] will come back and teach the next generation.”
The need for green chemistry summer schools is increasingly evident, and various organizations worldwide are working to meet that need for students in all geographies. Students seeking a deeper dive into green chemistry can explore several options, including the IUPAC Postgraduate Summer School on Green Chemistry, the African Training School on Green Chemistry and Environmental Sustainability, and the Summer School on Sustainable Chemistry for Sustainable Development at Leuphana University.
“Passing information about green chemistry on to the next generation is absolutely crucial, more important than any research I can do on my own. What’s more important? One more invention, or teaching the next generation? What’s going to have a greater impact on helping the environment?” said Philip Jessop, Canada Research Chair of Green Chemistry at Queen’s University and long-time GSCSS faculty member. “If every university had green chemistry throughout their undergraduate curriculum, there would be no need for summer schools. But that’s not the case, so if we want the next generation to know about green chemistry, we have to teach it through summer schools.”
Students from North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean can benefit from the GSCSS.
At the core of the program is a commitment to fostering knowledge, collaboration, and leadership in green chemistry and engineering with a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. One thing that makes the GSCSS unique is that it is fully funded, including covering participant travel costs.
“I think it’s outstanding that the ACS GCI Summer School brings students from across the Americas together. Imagine that in the near future all U.S. universities have fantastic undergrad and graduate training in green chemistry. That doesn’t solve the problem because many of the world’s university students are not in the U.S.,” said Philip. “It’s also free which is really important for students from more economically disadvantaged countries. It’s essential to share this knowledge across the planet because pollution happens everywhere.”
Students leave the program feeling hopeful and empowered to make a positive difference for the future. Because the program is fully funded, the Summer School is an invaluable opportunity for future leaders in green and sustainable chemistry to exchange their unique perspectives and think creatively about solving problems.
“This school was the first time that I was taught by a black person. I’ve never met a black doctor before, and that’s very concerning. I’ve also never met people from some of the other countries before, and all of them brought a different perspective,” said Luis Henrique Da Silva Correa, a Ph.D. candidate in civil engineering at the University of Victoria. “All of our voices matter, and all our different experiences help us approach and solve problems as scientists. Diversity, green chemistry, and sustainability are collectively important for solving many of the problems we face in the world.”
The program is also structured to create a resilient network of scientists with shared values and interests. Each year, students have opportunities to build connections during social events and location-based excursions.
Peer-to-peer learning enables participants to teach and learn from each other, share diverse perspectives, and solve problems creatively.
Dylan Shuster, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, reflected, “We’ve learned a lot about catalysis but really this whole endeavor we were just on was a catalyst. It brought a bunch of people together who would not have otherwise met in any shape or form to learn and be the stewards of the future we are all aiming for.”
As of this year, ACS GCI is partnering with the ACS Education Division to bring additional career resources to GSCSS attendees and implement exciting changes for future years that will make the GSCSS even more inclusive, impactful, and far-reaching. As more students apply each year, the admission process has become increasingly selective, but the ACS GCI wants to provide as many opportunities as possible.
“Now that we have passed the midpoint of the 15-year timeframe set forth by the United Nations with their Sustainable Development Goals initiative, the urgency for training our future scientists is greater than ever,” said David A. Laviska, Portfolio Manager for Green Chemistry and Sustainability in Education at ACS GCI. “We are working to ensure that the GSCSS continues to earn its reputation as the most sought-after program of its kind.”
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A full report on the 2024 GSC Summer School is coming soon! Stay tuned for updates on the application portal opening for next year’s Summer School on the ACS website.