Workshops

Students and postdoctoral scholars are encouraged to attend the free annual GC&E Student & Postdoc Workshop, held the day before the GC&E Conference begins. This full‑day workshop focuses on strengthening science communication through systems thinking, sustainable design, and audience‑centered storytelling. Participants will explore how to translate green chemistry concepts into compelling narratives and practical tools that drive real‑world impact.

This full-day workshop is designed to help instructors at all levels of tertiary education incorporate the principles of green and sustainable chemistry (and engineering) in their curricula. The agenda includes four main subject areas in which pedagogical goals and best practices will be addressed by facilitators who have dedicated their careers to the design and implementation of curricular materials directly relevant to green chemistry.

This interactive symposium examines the challenges of enabling circularity for complex, multi‑material textile and consumer products that currently evade conventional recycling systems. Participants from chemistry, engineering, design, policy, and waste management will explore how material complexity, legacy design choices, and incompatible chemistries limit post‑consumer recovery across sectors. Through facilitated discussion and systems‑level collaboration, the session will identify gaps and opportunities for building effective circular ecosystems.

Mechanochemistry is rapidly emerging as a transformative approach in chemical synthesis, offering reduced solvent usage and energy-efficient alternatives to traditional solution-based methods. Despite its growing relevance (700 papers published yearly) and addressing 9 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, mechanochemistry remains underrepresented in industrial applications and mainstream chemical education. This workshop aims to bridge that gap by showcasing how mechanochemistry can contribute to sustainable infrastructure, industrial innovation, and circular economy principles.

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 dive deeper into authentic engagement strategies, highlighting how chemists can partner with frontline communities to inform research priorities, shape safer product design, and influence policy.