27th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering
Call for Symposia Topics

Theme: Closing the loop:  Chemistry for a Sustainable Future
Dates: June 13-15, 2023
Location: Long Beach, CA
Submission deadline: October 7, 2022
Notification of acceptance by: November 2022

The American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI) is pleased to announce that it will hold its 27th annual scientific meeting June 13-15, 2023 in Long Beach, California.

The Green Chemistry & Engineering (GC&E) Conference 2023 Advisory Committee is co-chaired by Michael E. Kopach, Eli Lilly and Company, and Francesca M. Kerton, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The Committee requests that all proposals reflect ACS GCI’s mission to advance the development and implementation of green and sustainable chemistry and engineering practices across the global chemistry enterprise.

Closing the loop:  Chemistry for a Sustainable Future is the 2023 conference theme. (Learn more about how our GC&E theme follows the phases of the chemical life cycle.)

As in previous years, the committee is looking for proposals across the breadth of green and sustainable chemistry and engineering topics, with an emphasis on symposia that focus on green and sustainable chemistry and engineering related to how these products are developed and commercialized to support a closed loop economy and sustainable use. This may address green and sustainable chemistry and engineering in product manufacturing processes, products in use by consumers, products under development, and by designing products for what happens to them after their useful life.

The Conference Organizing Committee seeks proposals that:

• Provide diverse perspectives from scientists engaged in fundamental research, industrial scientists, business leaders, educators, students, government, NGOs, etc.
• Deliver creatively designed sessions that are highly interactive (e.g., facilitate lively discussion, include sufficient time for Q&A, rapid-fire sessions, debates, 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:

• How function-based, backward design strategies are being used to make chemicals, chemistries and processes for a closed loop economy and sustainable use
• Success stories in using “Design for X” (e.g., recycling, reuse, manufacture, etc.) strategies and methodologies in product design, development and demonstration that minimize life cycle and systems-level impacts
• Developing products that reduce waste, energy, emissions, etc. during the use phase
• Developing products whose use is protective or selectively avoids adverse environmental impacts, e.g., highly targeted crop protection agents, degradable packaging that enhances shelf life, household, and personal care products, etc.
• Chemistry Education: Development of curricula and curricular materials to infuse systems thinking, green and sustainable chemistry throughout education (i.e., closed loop economy, systems thinking, LCA, function-based backward design, etc.)
• Chemicals, chemistries, and processes to enable a more sustainable, closed loop economy and that lead to significant reductions in systems-level and life cycle impacts
• Sustainable chemistry and engineering manufacturing of:
  • the built environment (e.g., homes, offices, manufacturing, etc.)
  • textiles, apparel, and footwear
  • electronics
  • materials assembly (i.e., automotive, aerospace, etc.)
  • household and personal care products
  • pharmaceuticals (drug substance and drug product)
• Innovative approaches to:
  • collaborations between government, academia, and industry
  • tools for process design and simulation
  • green and sustainable chemistry and engineering metrics / assessment methodologies
  • chemicals policy in academia, industry and government that stimulates the implementation of green and sustainable chemistry and engineering

Proposals should include the following information:

• A brief statement describing the rationale/need for this topic at the GC&E meeting (500 words or less).
• A description of the practice gaps that will be addressed during the symposium. This description should focus on how addressing these gaps will advance green chemistry and engineering in this area.
• Proposed speakers (with affiliations), anticipated topics of presentations and proposed mix of invited and contributed presentations, including how diversity and inclusion will be considered. Please see the GC&E Diversity, Inclusion and Respect statement below.
• Plans/methods for creating an interactive environment during the session. Workshops and panel discussions are encouraged.

Please use our new application portal to submit your symposium proposal by October 7, 2022. All symposia submissions will be reviewed by the Conference Organizing Committee and applicants will be notified of decisions in November 2022. If you have questions, please contact us at gci@acs.org.

We are looking forward to an exciting event as we bring together a diverse scientific community to advance green and sustainable chemistry and engineering research, education, and sustainable technologies.

Proposals will be reviewed and considered using the following criteria:

• Topic meets the definition of green and sustainable chemistry or engineering.
• Topic supports the conference theme of “Use Closing the loop:  Chemistry for a Sustainable Future” or fills gaps in current practice to advance green and sustainable chemistry or engineering.
• Proposed session is innovative and forward-thinking in advancing green and sustainable chemistry and engineering.
• Diversity of proposed speakers and organizers (See DEIR statement below).
• Number of proposals submitted by a given organizer. Organizers may be involved in a maximum of 2 sessions.
• Topic overlap with other submitted proposals.
• Available meeting space.

Example of a Successful Call for Symposia Submission:

Please view this PDF for an example of a symposium submission that successfully incorporates all of the information outlined above.

Green Chemistry & Engineering Diversity, Inclusion & Respect Statement

Diversity, Equity, 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. Please 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