Green Your Beaker: Tel Aviv University Hosts International Conference on Green Chemistry
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 02.23.07
Once upon a time, scientists conducted experiments and with little forethought poured noxious chemicals from their beakers and test tubes down the drain. In recent years, with concerns for the environment and human health high on the agenda, institutions around the world have been addressing ways to “green their chemistry”. On June 6-7th Tel Aviv University’s Porter School of Environmental Studies will host: "Green Chemistry – applications, research, and trends” which will include sessions on commercial applications of green chemistry, raw materials recycling, renewable fuels; environmental and health aspects of home and commercial chemicals and global policies in this area.
The main purpose of the conference is to introduce academia, industry, government and NGOs in the region to the field – among others, via introducing novel research and trends from abroad.
Some models that will be explored include the new European REACH directive for assessment and registration of chemicals; new laws in California to assess human exposure to chemicals; and new legislation in Michigan to promote alternative, cleaner business methods.
Speakers will include:
Prof. Terry Collins – Director of the institute for green oxidation chemistry, Carnegie-Mellon University, USA
Dr. Dave Henton – NatureWorks LLC, USA
Prof. Richard L. Smith, Jr. - Regional Editor, Journal of Supercritical Fluids, Research Center of Supercritical Fluid Technology, Tohoku University, Japan
Prof. Peter Sundin – Director of the international program in chemical sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
The area of “Green Chemistry” came to light when 3 chemists (Yves Chauvin, Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock) received the Nobel Prize for their research in the field. And since then, the business world is running after developing products that are considered environmentally safe.
In addition to the health risks, chemicals and chemical processes present huge environmental problems, not to mention the contribution of energy intensive processes in industry to global warming.
For more information and to submit papers, please contact smadari@tauex.tau.ac.il. ::Press Release
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Such a wonderful conference topic.. The procedure of chemical experiments has to follow nature and human life conscious rules for sure.
I am also happy to hear that the conference is taking place in Israel, and truly hope that, besides its scientists, it also inspires and improves Israeli army's actions in middle east too..
I was more than surprised when i saw pictures of the natural disaster when Israeli forces bombed the petroleum refinery stations, last summer in Lebanon. It was shocking!. How can a country of science, knowledge and wisdom could do this to a neighboring country, sharing the same beach?
How can an army drop cluster bombs on civilian ground is also another issue, which is far beyond any explanation. Be sure to know that many of those bomblets remain unexploded for years, until a child steps on them.
I put this link for those who may be interested in the impacts of cluster muniton: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5213026.stm
and, www.hrw.org.
If i could reach the participants of the conference from our treehugger pages, i would tell them this: Issue a resolution calling Israel for responsability and protest Israeli state and army for their ignorance of human rights and natural life!
Albeit what is being done is something nice, being environmentally conscious requires a bit more than hosting a conference.