Marissa Clapson

I. Green Chemistry Education in Undergraduate Inorganic Chemistry Classrooms: A Three-Pronged Approach

Project Description

Chemistry plays an important role in the pursuit of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Rising concerns on the sustainability of chemical processes have highlighted the need for green chemistry applications, both industrially and academically. In order to tackle our global challenges, we must focus on providing quality education in green chemistry for our future chemistry leaders. The gamification of learning has proven a successful active learning technique in which students can engage more thoroughly with course content. Herin, we propose a three-pronged approach to introduce green chemistry into inorganic chemistry classrooms. Two new active learning tools, an escape room activity and a design activity, will be implemented alongside a hands-on catalyst development laboratory focused on the Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction, a common industrial method. These methods will add to the growing body of green chemistry education resources offered through the Green Chemistry Commitment, providing an interactive avenue to students to engage with applications of green chemistry through the lens of inorganic chemistry and catalyst development.

II. Exploring Green Catalysis – The Modes, The Methods, The Targets

Project Description

The development of novel catalysts for the sustainable transformation of small molecules to value-added chemicals is a key component included in the 12 principles of green chemistry. When considering sustainability and green chemistry through the lens of catalysis, we can draw out three themes: 1) Sustainable transformations – catalysts that allow for less solvent, improved yields, higher TON/TOF for common commercial transformations, 2) Green catalyst development – working to create greener catalysts through improved ligand synthesis, application of base metals, or the application of main group catalytic species, and 3) Sustainable targets – catalyst development to target sustainable transformations such as CO2 reduction (zero-carbon cycles), nitrogen reductions/ammonia oxidation (NH3 as an alternative fuel), biofuel synthesis, biopolymer synthesis, etc. This session, hosted at the 2025 Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, explores methods and applications in green catalyst development. 

Part 1 (Exploring Current Research and Green Chemistry Metrics): participants will come together to share their research and experience as it relates to the three green catalysis themes described above. To open the session, participants will be able to network with one another while participating in hands-on activities exploring green chemistry metrics. Following the activities will be a series of 15-minute talks followed by a panel discussion. 

Part 2 (Applying Green Chemistry Principles in Your Own Research): participants will have the opportunity to engage with one another in a workshop focused on implementing green chemistry principles into their own research and future projects. Here, we provide attendees with the opportunity to establish future collaborations, learn from other leaders in the field, and gain a stronger sense of direction when considering inorganic and green chemistry in future research. The workshop will be followed by another series of 15-minutes talks and a discussion panel.

Part 3: following the conference, the symposium materials will be integrated into a third-year inorganic chemistry course offered at the University of Prince Edward Island. The functionality of the learning materials at the conference versus in a classroom will be contrasted.