Plenary Session: Paul Anastas

Abstract

The evolution of green chemistry has been marked by a constant increase in awareness and adoption by all of those touched by chemistry.  And yet we are still at the tip of the proverbial iceberg of fully understanding and realizing the power and potential of green chemistry to address the sustainability challenges as enumerated by the United Nations Sustainability Goals. Since its inception, green chemistry has always been referred to as “the chemistry of sustainability” and has always incorporated life-cycle design, circularity considerations, and other elements now trending. It will be important not only to consider this fuller systems-understanding of green chemistry but also to look to the future to see how emerging scientific, technological, sociological, and economic forces can be amalgamated to develop solutions to our most critical problems.

Biography

Professor Paul T. Anastas is credited with establishing the field of green chemistry in 1991.  His research focuses on the design, discovery, development, and implementation of new chemical products and processes that benefit, the environment and human health and contribute to a more sustainable planet. He holds the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Chair in Chemistry for the Environment and has a joint appointment as a Professor in Environmental Health Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health. Paul Anastas also serves as the Director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale. Dr. Anastas has served in the federal government under 4 U.S. Presidential Administrations most recently as the Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama. Dr. Anastas has published widely on topics of science through sustainability with approximately 200 research publications and 13 books. Among his honors, he proudly holds an Honorary Doctorate of Science from McGill University.