Policy Statement on Green Chemistry in Higher Education
We are deeply concerned that students are graduating from our colleges and universities with insufficient understanding of environmental and sustainability issues. For our companies to compete successfully in a global economy, it is imperative that principles of sustainability be incorporated throughout the curriculum.
Within this sustainability framework, it is critical for our industries that green chemistry principles are deeply embedded in both the technical and non-technical education of our workforces.
We call on institutions of higher education to integrate green chemistry and sustainability principles into chemistry, engineering, science, and business curricula. This will serve two primary goals:
- Enabling scientists, engineers, and others to enter the workforce with the skills to solve the many challenges today’s industries face
- Endowing students with the skills to design and apply safer, more sustainable chemicals, materials, products, and processes.
We also call on institutions of higher education to work with companies, governments, and other stakeholders to develop educational programs and internship opportunities that ensure a well-trained workforce provided with the most up-to-date knowledge on green chemistry and sustainability. These advances in curriculum will require a top-level commitment from university leadership that supports interdisciplinary education.