LANSING — The seventh annual Michigan Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 3 and 4, at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex.
Business leaders, engineers, chemists, researchers, teachers,
policymakers, and anyone else interested in moving green chemistry
and engineering forward in Michigan are invited to participate in this conference.
The event is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Michigan Green Chemistry Roundtable and the University of Michigan.
Nov. 3 will see a “Green Chemistry and Engineering 101” workshop
and a networking reception. The conference, and the Michigan Green Chemistry Governor’s Award, will be held Nov. 4.
This year’s conference theme is “Advancing Toward a Safer and Sustainable Future.”
Organizers say green chemistry and engineering can revolutionize the way we work and live, by employing less toxic materials and
processes in the manufacture and design of the products we use
every day while protecting human health and the environment. Green chemistry and engineering can also help businesses create new markets, reduce costs, increase safety, and gain a competitive edge.
Organizers also announced a call for oral presentations, research
poster presentations, and for nominations for the Michigan Green
Chemistry Governor’s Award. The application deadline is July 1 for
oral presentations, July 15 for the governor’s award, and Oct. 2 for
poster presentations.
Past conference proceedings and agendas are available online at
www.michigan.gov/greenchemistry.
Specific focus areas for oral and poster presentations include:
The business case for green chemistry and engineering. This may
include case studies where companies have explored green markets
and opportunities for innovation and business growth by minimizing
the use of toxic chemicals, reducing raw material needs, cutting waste and disposal costs, and reducing energy costs to meet corporate sustainability goals. Other initiatives such as minimizing environmental impact through materials selection, including renewable feedstock and bio-based materials; minimization of waste through reuse and recycling; and supply chain inclusion and communication are also excellent topics. Specific areas of focus for consideration are:
• Partnerships for academic and industry cooperation and
implementation
• Success stories of more sustainable products competing with
existing technology
• Sustainable production and a circular economy
• Company benefit and profitability case studies
• Placing green chemistry in the landscape of corporate sustainability
• Connecting supply chains for cooperative innovation
• Getting to market and navigating partnerships, competitive issues,
risk, and funding
• Advancements in disclosure, transparency, and certification
• Hazard assessment and reduction; incorporation of green chemistry principles; health endpoint development
• Life Cycle Assessment – green products without unintended
consequences
• Best practices to create an organizational green chemistry initiative
Cutting edge research. This area will highlight new fundamental
research breakthroughs utilizing one (or more) of the 12 principles of green chemistry and engineering and discuss the next steps needed to develop the emerging technologies. A key sub focus will be on synthesis of alternative routes, methods, and compounds.
• Materials science in green chemistry – innovative uses of new
materials
• Bio-economic development – feedstocks; products; networks;
opportunities
• Microwave organic synthesis
The use of green chemistry in public health. This area will focus on
identifying links between green chemistry and human and
environmental health, toxicology, and environmental epigenetics.
• Emerging risks, including nanoparticles
• Alternatives assessment and toxicology leading to green chemistry
• Great Lakes science
• Identifying green chemistry opportunities
• Developing understanding of legacy and emerging contaminants
• Creating partnerships for a proactive approach
Educating for a sustainable future. This focus area seeks updates on
what universities are doing to promote inter-disciplinary programs that focus on the benefits of green chemistry and engineering to students from science, engineering, business, law, policy, education, and public health perspectives.
• Green chemistry in higher education
• Green chemistry in K-12 education
Green Energy. This area will focus on how emerging energy
technologies such as solar, wind, advanced batteries, and bio-fuels
are using green chemistry and engineering principles to eliminate or
reduce toxic chemicals from their processes and products.
Policy Updates. This area will focus on changes in regulations or
policies (at local, state, or federal levels) that are providing incentives to green chemistry and engineering practices.
Proposals will be evaluated for relevance in meeting conference
objectives, application of the principles of green chemistry and green engineering, and technical quality.
Presentations must be strictly educational, providing fair, full
disclosure and equitable balance of all aspects of a topic being
presented. No endorsement, commercialism, or solicitation will be
permitted. All program materials must be free from promotional
influence and/or marketing content. Preference will be given to
Michigan organizations
Breakout session presentations may be offered in 20 or 40 minute
time slots with possible question-and-answer sessions and panel
discussions in both the morning and afternoon sessions. The
conference steering committee reserves the right to develop these
sessions using a combination of proposals andr invited presenters.
As a benefit to approved speakers, conference registration fees will
be waived. Due to budget constraints, the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality has limited funds available for other expense
reimbursement. Please note any reimbursement requirements you
may need as part of your proposal.
Poster Proposals: Poster displays are intended to help demonstrate tools, resources, and content that drives green chemistry and engineering concepts into research, academics, industry, and advocacy arenas. Maximum size for posters is 46 by 46 inches, and will be mounted to poster boards with either push pins or Velcro. Poster presenters will still be expected to register for the conference and pay the full registration fee. Students will have a discounted registration fee and are eligible to participate in a student poster competition the day of the conference. More information about the conference registration, schedule for the day, and student poster competition will be given upon acceptance.
Those interested in presenting should visit
www.michigan.gov/greenup to complete the online forms for
speakers or posters. Accepted speakers will be notified in July and
August. Accepted posters will be notified after review of proposal.
If you have questions about the submission process for oral
presentations, contact Chris Affeldt at affeldtc@michigan.gov or (517) 284-6851. For poster proposal questions, contact Dr. Sudhakar Reddy at redv@umich.edu or (734) 763-4615.