Environmentally friendly scientists are increasingly conscious about the need to make chemistry "greener". A new course titled “Towards the Greening of Our Minds: Green and Sustainable Chemistry” was developed at Washington College, Chestertown, MD. The goal of this course is to present a different perspective regarding chemistry and its applications in academia and industry worldwide. This course covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of green and sustainable chemistry.

The presentation will focus specifically on the content of the course which is divided in the following five sections:

•The first section provides the foundations of green chemistry and sustainability.

•The second section focuses on some of the applications of green chemistry and sustainability in academia and industry.

•The third section is allotted to the writing of a four-page article about one of the annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards and to the oral presentation of the accomplishments of the award recipient.

•The fourth section addresses the status of green chemistry and sustainability in developing countries followed by a discussion about the book by William McDonough and Michael Braungart entitled “Remaking the Way We Make Things: Cradle to Cradle”.

•The fifth section is based on the presentation of a team mini-proposal. A team of students needs to apply their greener mind to a chemical reaction, process or product that is not environmentally friendly and come up with an alternative design.

Taking this course, the students have the opportunity:

•To enrich existing knowledge about general and organic chemistry while learning about green chemistry and sustainability concepts,

•To critically evaluate policy decisions using green chemistry as the focus,

•To polish scientific writing and oral presentation skills,

•To develop leadership aptitude in discussions, and

•To build up confidence.