Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) and Monash University are encouraging people to attend or watch the upcoming Environmental Science Series event: Green chemistry – the missing elements, which takes place at Melbourne Museum on Thursday 22 February from 12pm-2pm.
Professor John Warner of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry in the United States, a leading expert and Adjunct Professor of the Monash University School of Chemistry, will be discussing the emerging practice of green chemistry.
The event is being hosted by Victoria’s Chief Environmental Scientist, Andrea Hinwood, in partnership with Monash University.
Professor Warner’s recent work in the fields of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, solar energy, and construction and paving materials are examples of how green chemistry principles can be immediately incorporated into commercially relevant applications.
Dr Hinwood said that an increasingly coordinated effort by chemists all over the world was occurring to develop environmentally friendly products that are cheap, easy to use and don’t have unintended environmental impacts.
“By applying green chemistry principles, scientists can create products in ways that reduce waste and harmful chemicals, use a great deal less energy, and demand less from our planet’s diminishing resources,” Dr Hinwood said.
“When we think of the environment, pollution and waste, we don’t usually think about chemistry. Yet chemistry is fundamental to the generation of pollution and waste, and hence so is the way we teach, learn and use it.
“What does the future hold for more sustainable industrial practices, and just how soon might this future be coming?”
Green chemistry: the missing elements will take place at Melbourne Museum on Thursday 22 February from 12pm-2pm. To book a spot or to register for online streaming of the event, visit: www.epagreenchemistry.eventbrite.com.au
Speaker bio: Professor John Warner
The President and Chief Technology Officer of Warner Babcock Institute, Professor John Warner is the recipient of the 2014 Perkin Medal, widely acknowledged as the highest honour in American industrial chemistry, as well as the 2004 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring and the Council of Science Society President’s 2008 Leadership award. Recently named one of ‘25 Visionaries Changing the World’, he is one of the founders of the field of green chemistry and has published nearly 300 patents, papers and books.
EPA’s Environmental Science Series
The Environmental Science Series are free public events addressing issues affecting the environment of Victoria. Guest speakers will provide insights into environmental science on topics such as air quality, human health impacts of emerging chemicals, the benefits of urban green areas, transport, planning, noise and water quality. All events will be livestreamed.