Workshop

It’s Easy Being Green: Budget-Friendly Safety-Conscious Chemistry Labs for the Secondary Science Classroom of Today

Summer workshop, June 11, 2025

Middle/High School Physical Science and Chemistry Teachers, you are invited to join us, as the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Belmont University announces its 9th professional development summer workshop.

Build a light detector and explore the efficacy of UV blocking products. Expand both qualitative and quantitative understanding of density and weighted averages. Join us in Dive into Chemistry with Some Summer “Light” Readings and Floating Fun.

Why Register?

• There is no registration fee.
• Perform green chemistry labs, with an emphasis on preparation, student safety and chemical disposal.
• Receive a printed copy of both instructor and student versions of the labs taught at the workshop – including background information, lab procedures and analysis questions.

Event and Registration Information

• The workshop will run from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (Central Standard Time) Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
• Lunch will be available.
• Registration ends Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
• Register under Upcoming Events at https://sites.google.com/view/its-easy-being-green-pd/home

Hosted by the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute and Beyond Benign, this one-day workshop will bring together industry professionals, K-12 educators, and higher education faculty and staff, and will facilitate conversation and collaboration for applying green chemistry practices across all levels. The event is free to attend.

Agenda

8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Light Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome Remarks, Beyond Benign

9:15 – 10:00 a.m. John Warner, John Warner Institute; Golisano Institute for Sustainability, RIT

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Connecting K-12, Higher Ed & Industry: Engaging multiple levels of education, Sarah Briggs, Program Manager, NYSP2I

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. GCCoP Panel

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 – 1:10 p.m. Afternoon Orientation

1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions: Short presentation and hands-on activities

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Break

2:45 – 4:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions: Short presentation and hands-on activities
Teaching: Audience – High school and higher education general chemistry and organic courses
Research: Audience – Higher education and industry
Service: Audience – Middle school teachers and higher education student groups

4:05 – 4:30 p.m. Closing and Debrief

4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Networking

More information available online.

The Safer Science Summit is an immersive event that empowers teachers to enhance safety practices in their school by deepening their understanding of lab safety regulations and protocols in STEM education.

What you get to experience:

• Immersive workshop with breakout sessions for teachers (grades 6-12) and higher-ed faculty
• “Train-the-trainer” day for lab inspections and chemical management systems
• Hands-on lab demonstrations
• Safety in Leadership workshop for administrators

The Safer Science Summit is an immersive event that empowers teachers to enhance safety practices in their school by deepening their understanding of lab safety regulations and protocols in STEM education.

What you get to experience:

• Immersive workshop with breakout sessions for teachers (grades 6-12) and higher-ed faculty
• “Train-the-trainer” day for lab inspections and chemical management systems
• Hands-on lab demonstrations
• Safety in Leadership workshop for administrators

The Safer Science Summit is an immersive event that empowers teachers to enhance safety practices in their school by deepening their understanding of lab safety regulations and protocols in STEM education.

What you get to experience:

• Immersive workshop with breakout sessions for teachers (grades 6-12) and higher-ed faculty
• “Train-the-trainer” day for lab inspections and chemical management systems
• Hands-on lab demonstrations
• Safety in Leadership workshop for administrators

The Safer Science Summit is an immersive event that empowers teachers to enhance safety practices in their school by deepening their understanding of lab safety regulations and protocols in STEM education.

What you get to experience:

• Immersive workshop with breakout sessions for teachers (grades 6-12) and higher-ed faculty
• “Train-the-trainer” day for lab inspections and chemical management systems
• Hands-on lab demonstrations
• Safety in Leadership workshop for administrators

All sessions run 8:00am to 4:00pm PT (11:00am to 7:00pm ET), with the exception of the last day as a half day.

The NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), in collaboration with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), is offering a PAID three-day workshop for high school chemistry teachers. Held at the University of Minnesota, this workshop will focus on teaching chemistry through inquiry-based learning and connections to sustainability-related topics.

Developed through the University of Minnesota MRSEC Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program and Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP), the workshop welcomes applicants from across the Midwest. The workshop is in-person only. 

Participants will gain knowledge and experience with topics such as sustainability, green chemistry, replacement experiments, sustainable plastics, climate science, and chemical safety through hands-on experiments, engaging activities, computer simulations, and demonstrations.

This is a fantastic opportunity for educators to enhance their teaching practices while promoting sustainability in science education.

Apply at mrsec.umn.edu/ehr/Workshop

This workshop will bring together representatives from various green labs programs to share strategies for establishing and expanding green labs on university campuses. With the significant environmental impact of scientific research, it is essential for R1 institutions to implement green labs initiatives to help meet sustainability and climate goals. Green labs programs not only enhance lab safety but also equip scientists with essential skills in efficiency and sustainability, which are increasingly valued in the research field. These programs have proven to save institutions money and positively impact energy and water conservation, waste reduction, community building, and educational opportunities for researchers, students, and faculty. The workshop will cover a range of topics, including program setup, funding sources, stakeholder engagement, incentive strategies, and the structural elements that drive program success. Participants will have ample opportunities to ask questions, engage in discussions, and participate in smaller group sessions for deeper exploration and problem-solving on specific topics.

Learning Outcomes

1. Gain insights into effective strategies for starting and scaling green labs programs on university campuses.
2. Understand the environmental, financial, and educational benefits of green labs initiatives.
3. Learn about various funding sources, engagement tactics, and incentive strategies to support green labs programs.
4. Explore best practices for building a strong network of campus stakeholders to drive green labs initiatives.
5. Engage in collaborative discussions and problem-solving with peers to address challenges and share successful approaches.

Facilitators

• Kathryn Ramirez-Aguilar, Green Labs Program Manager, University of Colorado Boulder
• Ryan Weeks, Sr. Sustainability Specialist, Green Labs & Zero Waste, Johns Hopkins University
• Emily Colpack, Green Labs Coordinator, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Leoncio Lagarde, Green Labs Program Assistant & Outreach Coordinator, University of Colorado Boulder
   

Registration Fees* 

Individual (non-student) associated with an AASHE member organization* -- $95

Individual (non-student) not associated with an AASHE member organization -- $125

Student -- $50

Groups -- Full price for first registrant and 20% off for each subsequent registrant

* To check if your organization is a current AASHE member, please search the AASHE Membership Directory.

A limited number of scholarships are available to individuals who need financial assistance to participate. Please apply two weeks before the program begins (e.g., 2/20/2025) to be considered for a scholarship for this workshop.

Middle/High School Physical Science and Chemistry Teachers, you are invited to join us, as the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Belmont University announces a NEW half-day professional development workshop* this spring.

Build a spectroscope and ride the waves of light as we explore absorbance, transmittance, and the mathematical relationship among wavelength, frequency and energy in Wavelength: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of LEDs.

Why Register?

• There is no registration fee.
• Apply for a chance to receive a small microgrant for curriculum items, lab materials, or professional development opportunities that focus on green chemistry topics and classroom applications.
• Perform green chemistry labs, with an emphasis on preparation, student safety and chemical disposal.
• Receive a printed copy of both instructor and student versions of the labs taught at the workshop – including background information, lab procedures and analysis questions.

Event and Registration Information

• The workshop will run from 9:15 AM to 12:30 PM Saturday, March 29, 2025.
• Light breakfast snacks will be available.
• Registration ends Friday, January 24, 2025.
• Register under Upcoming Events at https://sites.google.com/view/its-easy-being-green-pd/home

*Expansion of my sustainable green chemistry workshop series is made possible by support from Beyond Benign.

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The ACS Green and Sustainable Chemistry Summer School (GSCSS) is a highly selective week-long program for graduate students and postdoctoral chemists and engineers. Each year, approximately 60 exceptional students from North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean are selected from a large pool of applicants and gather for this fully funded once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The American Chemical Society pays for all eligible travel and program costs.

Organized and hosted by the Green Chemistry Institute since 2003, the summer school typically features more than a dozen expert instructors who share knowledge and skills from across a broad spectrum of topics directly relevant to green chemistry and sustainability. Throughout the program, students attend lectures and interactive study/project sessions, present posters about their own research, hold discussions, and spend time networking both with each other and the GSCSS faculty. Alumni of this program have gone on to become leaders in many green chemistry and sustainability-related fields and provide participants with an extensive network of professional contacts.