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Frontlines of Innovations: Green Chemistry for Resilient Communities

Hero 2026
  • Monday, June 15, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Green chemistry is more than a scientific framework; it’s a pathway to equity and resilience. To truly advance sustainability, we must ensure that green chemistry serves as a tool for reducing toxic exposures and improving health outcomes in communities disproportionately burdened by pollution and environmental hazards. This workshop will challenge us to move from just principles and publications toward co-created community-driven solutions that deliver tangible benefits where they are needed most.

Building on last year’s conversations, this session will dive deeper into authentic engagement strategies, highlighting how chemists can partner with frontline and fenceline communities to inform research priorities, shape safer product design, and influence policy. Through real-world case studies, storytelling, and interactive dialogue, we will explore how lived experiences can guide innovation and implementation, ensuring that sustainability is not just theoretical but actionable.

KEY THEMES:

From Awareness to Action: Translating green chemistry principles into measurable environmental justice (EJ) outcomes

Community-Centered Design: Co-creating solutions with local organizations and residents

Policy & Practice: Leveraging science to inform regulations and corporate responsibility

Success Stories: Examples of green chemistry improving health, safety, and environmental quality in EJ communities

Attendees will leave with practical tools and strategies to integrate EJ considerations into their research, education, and industry practices, thus driving systemic change for cleaner air, safer products, and healthier communities.

Workshop Organizers

  • Laurel Royer, Carnalis Consulting
  • Monica Hensley, Beyond Benign
  • Mahlet Gardew, AAAS Fellows
  • Loyd Bastin, Widener University
  • Sederra Ross, ACS Green Chemistry Institute

Conference Topics

  • Sustainable Process Design
  • Sustainable Product Design
  • Environmental Justice

Agenda

9:00 a.m. -9:30 a.m.
Welcome and Ice Breaker
9:20 a.m. -9:35 a.m.
Workshop Framing: What Does It Mean to Build Resilient Communities?
9:35 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
Keynote: From Policy to People: Industry Responsibility in Action
10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Building Resilient Communities
10:45 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Networking Coffee Break
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion: “What Does Resilience Look Like in Practice?”
12:30 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Breakout Session Intro & Case Study
2:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Working Group Part 1 | Defining Metrics That Matter
3:15 p.m. -3:30 p.m.
Networking Coffee Break
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Working Group Part 2 | From Metrics to Practice
4:30 p.m.-4:55 p.m.
Collective Creation | Community Framework for EJ & Green Chemistry
4:55 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Reflection & Next Steps