Centre for Green Chemical Science promotes research, education and outreach

The project, led by Professor of Chemistry James Wright with key team members Associate Professor Jonathan Sperry, Dr Ivan Leung and Dr Viji Sarojini from the School of Chemical Sciences, aims to facilitate and promote interdisciplinary research, education, public outreach and engagement in Green Chemical Science.

The Centre currently has more than 25 scientists as members spanning across the Faculties of Science, Engineering and Medical and Health Sciences reflecting its interdisciplinary nature.Since its inception in September 2015, the Centre’s members have obtained more than $3 million in external funding through 15 separate grants for Green Chemical Science research. Current research activities fall under the following general themes: Sustainable Synthesis, Catalysis, Waste to Value, Energy, Water and the Environment.

Professor John Hosking, Dean of Science, says the Centre provides an important vehicle to bring together scientists from a wide range of disciplines to tackle important global problems that include pollution elimination, access to clean water, better resource utilisation and sustainable energy production.

One industry meeting, two symposia and a two-day international Conference on Green Chemistry, sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry, have been hosted by the Centre with well over 100 attendees at each event.

Research collaboration has been pan-University with Engineering, Medicine, Business and Arts as well as the George Mason Centre for Natural Environment, the Biocide Tool Box and the MacDiarmid Institute.

Teaching and outreach are key to the Centre’s teaching philosophy. As part of the Centre’s Education goals, two new Green Chemistry courses were developed and offered for the first time in 2016. The Centre incorporated new teaching ideas and approaches into each of these very successful courses and will form the basis of a Green Chemical Science BSc specialisation that is on track for introduction in 2019.

Education attention has also been focussed on engaging with the general public and high school students to promote the understanding of Green Chemistry and to raise awareness of sustainability. A variety of channels have been used including YouTube videos, posters, science exhibition and public interest articles. “Our approach to date has been to introduce students to a transformative educational experiences.”

For further information on the Centre

Contact James Wright