º«¹úÂãÎè

News

Sustainable Innovation through Green Chemistry Case Competition Promotes Cross-Faculty Collaboration

Published: 16 March 2015

On January 16-17, 2015, the Marcel Desautels Institute for Integrated Management (MDIIM), CREATE in Green Chemistry, and the Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design (TISED), jointly hosted a workshop and case competition on Sustainable Innovation through Green Chemistry.

Now in its third installment, the event featured public lectures by º«¹úÂãÎè’s own Canada Excellence Research Chair in Green Chemistry and Green Chemicals, Dr. Robin Rogers, as well as Dr. Eric Beckman, Co-Director of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh.Ìý

Following the public lecture, graduate-level participants from the faculties of Chemistry, Engineering, and Management attended closed-interdisciplinary seminars led by experts from º«¹úÂãÎè, Queen’s University and the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute. Student participants were then able to apply their learning through a real-time case competition with interdisciplinary teams and present in front of panel of subject matter experts.

This year’s case addressed the complex challenges and opportunities associated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). A key takeaway amongst student participants was the importance of building a strong business case when introducing more sustainable products or creating substitutions to phase out riskier alternatives. The event also highlighted the continued interest and need for cross-departmental collaboration and opportunities for students from different faculties to practice working together. Overall, participants were able to gain a better appreciation for bringing multiple perspectives together when addressing sustainability challenges.Ìý

Ìý

Back to top