Project Green at the University Pittsburgh is a one-year effort to incorporate the principles of Green Chemistry into the culture of a large, diverse, Ph.D.-granting chemistry department. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation through a Discovery Corps Fellowship to the author.

The project has a research component as well as an education/service component. The research focuses on the capture of carbon dioxide using a set of novel, ionic liquid-based polymers. These polymers are being designed, synthesized and characterized in the Department by a team of undergraduates in collaboration with a senior member of the faculty and the author. This research team has established a relationship with the nearby National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and using facilities at NETL will evaluate the effectiveness of the polymers for separation of carbon dioxide from gas streams and flue gases that are produced in coal-burning electric power plants.

The education/service component of the project includes teaching a short course on green chemistry and organizing a departmental seminar program that is bringing leaders in green chemistry and chemical engineering to the University to make technical presentations and interact with students. In addition, undergraduates are contributing to the development of green chemistry laboratory projects for mainstream introductory and organic chemistry courses. These students also are involved in outreach with the University's College in High School program and with a local chemical technician training program.