Bridging the Gap workshop

Bridging the Gap
Green Chemistry Innovation and Education Workshop

Hosted by the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute and Beyond Benign, this one-day workshop will bring together industry professionals, K-12 educators, and higher education faculty and staff, and will facilitate conversation and collaboration for applying green chemistry practices across all levels. The event is free to attend. Registration is required.
Details
Date
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Time
8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET
Location
RIT’s Louise Slaughter Hall
CIMS Building 78
Rochester, NY 14623
Complimentary breakfast and lunch are included.
Agenda
8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Light Breakfast
9:00 - 9:15 a.m. Welcome Remarks, Beyond Benign
9:15 - 10:00 a.m. John Warner, The Technology Greenhouse; and Golisano Institute for Sustainability, RIT
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Connecting K-12, Higher Ed & Industry: Engaging multiple levels of education, Sarah Briggs, Program Manager, NYSP2I
10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Industry Panel
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 - 1:10 p.m. Afternoon Orientation
1:15 - 2:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions: Short presentation and hands-on activities
- Laboratory Safety Institute: Safer Labs
- Green Chemistry Resources & Case Studies
2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Break
2:45 - 4:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions: Short presentation and hands-on activities
- Green Chemistry in the High School Classroom & Lab
- Green Chemistry in Universities: Engaging Departments
4:05 - 4:30 p.m. Closing and Debrief
4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Networking
Speakers
CTO & CEO, Technology Greenhouse
Professor of Practice, Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology
Dr. John Warner is cofounder of the field of green chemistry with Paul Anastas. As an industrial chemist, he has over 350 patents. He received the Perkin Medal in 2014. As an academic, he was tenured full professor of chemistry and plastics engineering at UMASS where he started the world’s first Ph.D. program in Green Chemistry. He has over 120 publications. In 2004 he received the Presidential Award for excellence in science mentoring from the NSF and President George W Bush and in 2022 he received the August Wilhelm von Hofmann Medal from the German Chemical Society. As an inventor, John’s inventions have led to the founding of many companies in the fields of photovoltaics, neurochemistry, construction materials, water harvesting and cosmetics. In 2016 he received the Lemelson Invention Ambassadorship from the Lemelson Foundation and the AAAS. John is a member of the Club of Rome, and holds academic appointments at Monash University in Australia, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, Somaiya University in India, University of Birmingham in the UK, Rochester Institute of Technology in the US, and Technical University of Berlin in Germany where they have named the “John Warner Center for Start Ups in Green Chemistry.” John currently serves as CTO and CEO of The Technology Greenhouse.
Director of Educational Content and Learning / LSI Instructor, The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)
Dr. Elizabeth Braun is the Director of Educational Content and Learning at the Lab Safety Institute. She comes to LSI after leading a team of teachers in developing the chemistry curriculum for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in Texas, where she also oversaw the safety program. She has worked the last three years developing a Chemical Hygiene Plan and creating standard operating procedures for the safe handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals in the district. She was also responsible for rolling out safety initiatives to teachers (6-12) through professional development trainings that she created and facilitated.
She has a passion for science safety and brings 8 years of experience in public education, 6 years of graduate research experience in chemistry, and 5 years of college level teaching experience to the team. She holds her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Sam Houston State University, master’s and doctoral degrees in chemistry from The University of Texas at Dallas. Elizabeth has 7 peer-reviewed publications in the field of bioanalytical chemistry and was selected as the inaugural Teacher of the Year for Bridgeland High School her second year teaching.
Senior Research Specialist & Program Manager for Green Chemistry and Emerging Contaminants, New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
Sarah Briggs is a Senior Research Specialist and Program Manager for Green Chemistry and Emerging Contaminants at the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she executes green chemistry initiatives and conducts research focused on the reduction of toxic chemicals in products and industrial applications. Prior to joining NYSP2I, she held positions as a research chemist, educator, and EH&S safety specialist. Sarah holds an M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, an M.A. in Chemistry from Wesleyan University, and a B.A. in Chemistry and English Literature from Wesleyan University.
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Beyond Benign
Dr. Amy Cannon is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Beyond Benign, a non-profit dedicated to green chemistry education. She holds the world’s first Ph.D. in green chemistry from the University of Massachusetts Boston where she worked with Dr. John Warner, a founder of the field of green chemistry. Amy has industrial experience working for the Gillette Company and Rohm and Haas, and was an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell before founding Beyond Benign. Her work is aimed at empowering educators to integrate green chemistry into their teaching and practice to prepare scientists and citizens with green chemistry skills.
Technology Coordinator/SPOC, Chemistry Teacher, Peer Collaborative Teacher, Beyond Benign Certified Lead Teacher, W. H. Maxwell High School for Career and Technical Education, New York City Technical College
Scott Carlson grew up in New York City, specifically the South Bronx and Brooklyn. He received his B.S. in Chemistry and Education at Saint Joseph’s College and went on to earn his Masters in Teaching Chemistry from the Steinhardt school of Teaching and Learning at NYU. Since 2006, Scott has taught at Benjamin Banneker Academy, The Green School for Environmental Careers, and the Academy for Conservation and the Environment. Currently, he is the Lead science teacher at W. H. Maxwell High School for Career and Technical Education, where he is responsible for professional development for the staff and teaches Regents Chemistry, Forensics, and A.P. Environmental Science. Scott is a Lead Chemistry Teacher and Mentor for NYC Chemistry Teachers, a Lecturer in General Chemistry and General Chemistry Laboratory at NYC Technical College, and a SciEd Innovators Fellow from the Jhumki Basu Foundation and is certified in School Building and School District Leadership in New York State. He is a Beyond Benign Certified Lead Teacher and has been using Green Chemistry Laboratories in his classroom since attending the Train-the-trainer program in 2015. He is excited to join the Green Chemistry Teaching & Learning Community (GCTLC) as Co-Committee chair in driving awareness and adoption of green chemistry in professional development.
Vice President and Chief Innovation and Technology Officer, ICL Group
Dr. Anantha Desikan is the Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at ICL Group. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from Coimbatore Institute of Technology.
Director, New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
Roy Green is the Director of the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he leads a multidisciplinary team of over 20 engineers, technical experts, outreach specialists, and students. Under his leadership, NYSP2I delivers innovative pollution prevention research, technical assistance, and outreach to businesses and communities across New York State.
With more than 25 years of experience in environmental science, sustainability, and corporate responsibility, Roy is a recognized leader in developing and executing sustainability strategies that drive measurable impact. His career spans senior roles in multiple industries, including positions as Senior ESG Manager at CooperCompanies, Corporate Responsibility Manager at HNI Corporation, and Director of Sustainability at Gunlocke and HBF.
Roy has led initiatives that achieved zero waste to landfill certifications, advanced decarbonization roadmaps, and improved sustainability ratings from leading agencies. He has a proven track record of aligning sustainability goals with business strategy, enhancing transparency, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to meet evolving regulatory and stakeholder expectations.
He holds an M.S. in Energy Management and an Advanced Certificate in Energy Technology from the New York Institute of Technology, as well as a B.S. in Environmental Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Roy is a LEED® AP O&M, WELL® AP, and Associate Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner (ACSAP). He also has specialized training in life-cycle assessment, stakeholder engagement, and safer chemical evaluation.
Roy is known for his technical acumen, regulatory insight, and ability to build collaborative partnerships across industry, academia, and government to advance sustainability and pollution prevention goals.
Green Chemistry Education Manager, the Life Science business of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, operating as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada
Areej Nitowski brings together her love of science and education in her role as Green Chemistry Education Manager for the Life Science business of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada.
Areej strives to implement chemistry curriculum change in higher education and prepare future chemists with an education where sustainability is the primary focus. She is particularly passionate about making science education more accessible for young women and students of color. In her role as Green Chemistry Education Manager, she also serves as the liaison for the company’s Signature Partnership with global green chemistry education nonprofit Beyond Benign.
Areej spent the first 20 years of her career as an analytical chemist and applications specialist for analytical laboratory equipment and liquid handling automation for high-throughput screening in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. This industry experience is complemented by an 11-year career teaching 7th grade science.
Areej received her B.S. in biochemistry and M.S. in toxicology from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry.
Beyond Benign Certified Lead Teacher, NYS Master Teacher Emeritus, Retired High School Chemistry Teacher
Annette taught high school chemistry for over 30 years at Guilderland High School. She is a Beyond Benign Certified Lead Teacher, NYS Master Teacher Emeritus, and a National Board Certified Teacher. Annette is doing inspiring work to advance green chemistry education. She is a co-author of GREEN CHEMISTRY AND SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE: A Green Approach to Sustainable STEM in K-12 and an instructor for Beyond Benign’s professional development course, Advanced Green Chemistry: Connections to Our World. Annette co-facilitated the New York State Master Teacher Green Chemistry Professional Learning Team for 4 years.
Co-Founder & Board Member, GL CHEMTEC INTERNATIONAL LTD
Dr. Lisa Studnicki Hunt is a co-founder of GL CHEMTEC. Lisa obtained her Degree in Natural Sciences from John Abbott College. She then pursued her Bachelor of Science (Honours B.Sc., 2000) with a minor in French and Master of Science (M.Sc., Chemistry, 2002) at the University of Toronto. Lisa went on to complete her Doctor of Philosophy in Organic Polymer Chemistry at Friedrich-Schiller University in Jena, Germany. Lisa has several scientific publications and patents.
She earned her Professional Sales Designation from the Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA) in 2008 and pursued the E2-Entrepreneur's Edge course at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2009. She then attended Harvard Business School in 2015 under the guidance of renowned professor Clayton Christensen. She further expanded her business acumen by completing the "Marketing Innovation" course at the MIT Sloan School of Management in 2017.
Chief Program Officer, Beyond Benign
Dr. Omar Villanueva is Chief Program Officer at Beyond Benign. Originally from the Southwest region of Mexico, Omar grew up in Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Education in Science Education from the University of Georgia in Athens (UGA). Omar later completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry at Emory University, where he discovered his passion for green chemistry through research focused on developing earth-abundant metal catalysts for organic transformations.
With more than a decade of experience as a chemistry faculty member, Omar has mentored undergraduate students in sustainable catalysis research and collaborated with colleagues to integrate green chemistry principles into academic curricula. His work spans diverse projects, including developing alternative grading practices, designing new ACS-approved undergraduate courses, advancing social justice initiatives in chemistry, enhancing organic chemistry education, and conducting chemical education research. In addition, he has been actively involved in higher education leadership initiatives and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science.
Before joining Beyond Benign, Omar was the Chemistry Department Chair in the School of Science and Technology at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC). In addition to leading a large, diverse, interdisciplinary department, he led initiatives to grow new academic programs, increase institutional capacity for the meaningful evaluation of effective and inclusive teaching, and increase diversity among STEM faculty.
Omar is deeply committed to advancing green chemistry education and empowering educators, programs, and institutions to adopt transformative, sustainable practices. At Beyond Benign, he oversees the programmatic aspects of the organization’s green chemistry education initiatives, supporting efforts from K-12 through higher education.
GCTLC sign-up
Green Chemistry Teaching & Learning Community (GCTLC) Sign-up
Please register for your GCTLC account. This platform is for connecting the Green Chemistry Community of Practice, sharing resources, topical forums, and collaborative group spaces. Registration on this platform is free. Sign-up is not mandatory to attend the workshop, but it is strongly encouraged for attendees to get the most benefit from the event.
Once registered, go to the Bridging the Gap group, introduce yourself in the discussion, explore the connected resources, leave questions for the speakers, engage with other attendees. We will share the agenda, pre-reading, case studies, individual session discussions and materials, the resources that speakers share, and more.
Learn more about GCTLC.
Sign up
Getting here
RIT's Louise Slaughter Hall/CIMS Building 78
149 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623
- Turn Right on Brooks Ave., and take a quick right onto Rte 390 South.
- Take the first exit, Scottsville Rd.
- Make a right onto Scottsville Rd.
- Travel straight for approximately 2.8 miles, then turn left at Jefferson Rd (Rte 252).
- Travel on Jefferson Rd for 0.5 miles to the main entrance. The main entrance is on the right hand side of the road and is indicated by a large sign that reads, “Rochester Institute of Technology, Founded 1829”.
- When you get to lots J and T, turn left. This will take you to the GIS Building #81 and CIMS #78.
- Look for the Visitors Parking signs in the first row between lots J and T, in front of the stairs. Take stairs to top and enter GIS building on left or CIMS building on the right.
- Take exit 46 and proceed north on 390 to Hylan Dr (exit 13).
- Turn left onto Hylan Dr and continue north approximately 1.5 miles to Jefferson Rd (Rte 252).
- Turn left onto Jefferson Rd and drive approximately 1.5 miles to the main entrance. The main entrance is on the left-hand side of the road and is indicated by a large sign that reads “Rochester Institute of Technology, Founded 1829”.
- When you get to lots J and T, turn left. This will take you to the GIS Building #81 and CIMS #78.
- Look for the Visitors Parking signs in the first row between lots J and T, in front of the stairs. Take stairs to top and enter GIS building on left or CIMS building on the right.
Hotel accommodations
RIT Inn & Conference Center
5257 W. Henrietta Road, Henrietta, NY 14467
https://www.rit.edu/ritinn/
(585) 359-1800
Room block rate: $119 — reserve by 6/30
Please reference the event when making reservations: "Bridging the Gap: Green Chemistry Education Workshop"