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1 – 10 of over 5000Mageswary Karpudewan, Zurida Hj Ismail and Norita Mohamed
The purpose of this paper is to introduce green chemistry experiments as laboratory‐based pedagogy and to evaluate effectiveness of green chemistry experiments in delivering…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce green chemistry experiments as laboratory‐based pedagogy and to evaluate effectiveness of green chemistry experiments in delivering sustainable development concepts (SDCs) and traditional environmental concepts (TECs).
Design/methodology/approach
Repeated measure design was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of green chemistry experiments in delivering SDCs and TECs. Structured interviews were conducted to gather the students' feedback on the course content and course structure.
Findings
Green chemistry have enhanced students' understanding of both TECs and SDCs. However, students understanding of SDCs are significantly higher than the TECs. During the interview sessions, students described that the course content as interesting and timely accurate. The course also succeeded in changing students' values and behaviors. Green chemistry was noted as a teaching pedagogy that the student teachers will implement in their future teaching. The course has also provided a space for them to improve their skills in communication, problem solving, and decision making.
Practical implications
This paper outlines a new teaching strategy and will be a good source for student teachers engaged in science education program. This new teaching strategy embeds scientific concepts grounded in economic, environmental, and societal imperatives.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the importance of education for SD (ESD) in higher education, with particular focus in teacher education. The paper proposes green chemistry experiments integrated with SDCs as laboratory‐based pedagogy in a teacher education program as an effort to green the existing curriculum and ultimately addresses the ESD.
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André van Roon, Harrie A.J. Govers, R. John and Hans van Weenen
It is now generally accepted that most of today’s (chemical) industry is unsustainable by design. Sustainable development is gaining interest as a concept, on the basis of which…
Abstract
It is now generally accepted that most of today’s (chemical) industry is unsustainable by design. Sustainable development is gaining interest as a concept, on the basis of which efforts are made to redesign production and consumption systems, in order to solve global environmental, economic and social problems. The aim of this paper is to investigate how the role of chemistry and chemistry education is changing through sustainable development. Sustainable chemistry is emerging as a new concept, but what is it? Different ideas on how to give content to sustainable chemistry have resulted in various new concepts, focussing on different levels of organisation, ranging from the level of molecules up to the societal level. After studying and comparing some of the related concepts concerned, a general definition of sustainable chemistry is presented. It is concluded that more research is needed, especially aimed at the higher levels of organisation, in order to be able to formulate a more detailed definition.
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Vesela Veleva and Berkeley W. Cue Jr
The purpose of this paper is to benchmark current adoption of green chemistry (GC) practices by the innovative and generic pharmaceutical companies and examine the drivers…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to benchmark current adoption of green chemistry (GC) practices by the innovative and generic pharmaceutical companies and examine the drivers, barriers and future opportunities.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors examined publicly available data for the top 10 “big pharma” and top ten generic drug manufacturers. Using the IQ Green Chemistry working group framework for effective GC programs, they scored each of the 20 companies in seven key areas.
Findings
The study finds that generic drug companies have not embraced GC at the level of the innovative pharmaceutical companies (average GC score of 2 vs 11 for “big pharma”). Top two barriers for them include: lack of pressure and incentives, and the burdensome regulatory process for making changes in the manufacturing process.
Research limitations/implications
The research is based on publicly disclosed information. It is possible that some generic drug manufacturers have begun to work internally on GC but have not disclosed externally yet. Future research should include a survey or interviews of generic drug manufacturers.
Practical implications
The company-level analysis, benchmarking framework and results are of value for researchers and practitioners interested in advancing greater adoption of GC by the pharmaceutical industry.
Originality/value
This study provides the first company-level benchmarking of GC adoption by the largest innovative and generics drug manufacturers. It contributes to the literature on the barriers and drivers for greater adoption of GC.
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Suganty Kanapathy, Khai Ern Lee, Mazlin Mokhtar, Sharifah Zarina Syed Zakaria, Subarna Sivapalan and Azizah Mohd Zahidi
This paper aims to discuss the knowledge levels, attitudes and behaviours regarding the concept of sustainable development among pre-university programme educators, as well as the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the knowledge levels, attitudes and behaviours regarding the concept of sustainable development among pre-university programme educators, as well as the potential barriers and opportunities they face in adopting the concept of sustainable development in the teaching of the pre-university level chemistry module at a public university in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted with eight educators of a pre-university programme at a public university located in Selangor, Malaysia. This pre-university programme exposes students to advanced courses in science, which are very much like first-year university courses for candidates who are interested in gaining admission to degree programmes. For this study, the focus was on chemistry educators only. The collected data were analysed through descriptive analysis following which interviews were conducted with the respondents.
Findings
In general, the educators have good knowledge and attitudes towards the concept of sustainable development. Moreover, their projected knowledge (K), attitude (A) and behaviour (B) focus more on environmental dimensions, as opposed to other sustainable development dimensions. While the integration of the concept of sustainable development in chemistry teaching is restricted by a few barriers, such as content-based learning, lack of guidebooks related to sustainable development and an overcrowded curriculum, positive responses from the chemistry educators indicate that there are opportunities to implement sustainable chemistry concepts in the pre-university chemistry module.
Research limitations/implications
The present study was conducted with several limitations; the data were obtained from a small sample size at an institute located within a public university. The respondents of this research consisted of only three existing chemistry educators and five administrators who are also educators. Further studies about sustainable chemistry teaching should include samples from other public and private universities.
Originality/value
This paper is instrumental in assisting the Ministry of Education, administrators, as well as educators within the pre-university sector to shift their goals towards sustainable chemistry teaching to achieve success in education for sustainable development.
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Abstract
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Renee M. Clark, Lisa M. Stabryla and Leanne M. Gilbertson
The purpose of this study was to assess particular student outcomes when design thinking was integrated into an environmental engineering course. The literature is increasingly…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to assess particular student outcomes when design thinking was integrated into an environmental engineering course. The literature is increasingly promoting design thinking for addressing societal and environmental sustainability engineering challenges. Design thinking is a human-centered approach that identifies needs upfront.
Design/methodology/approach
In an undergraduate engineering course, Design for the Environment, students have begun to obtain hands-on experience in applying design thinking to sustainability challenges. This case study investigates the association between the use of design thinking and student creativity with sustainability design solutions. Student perspectives on their own creativity and future sustainable design practices as a result of the course were also investigated.
Findings
The findings were favorable for design thinking, being associated with a significant difference and medium-to-large effect with regards to solution novelty. A qualitative analysis showed a positive association between design thinking and students’ perceptions of their creativity and future anticipated sustainability practices. Using a content analysis of reflective writings, students’ application of design thinking was assessed for comprehensiveness and correctness. A two-week introductory design-thinking module and significant use of in-class active learning were the course elements that most notably impacted students’ use of design thinking.
Practical implications
This case study preliminarily demonstrates that application of design thinking within an environmental engineering course may be associated with beneficial outcomes related to creativity and sustainability.
Originality/value
A review of the literature did not uncover studies of the use of design thinking for undergraduate socio-environmental challenges to promote creativity and sustainable-practices outcomes, although the literature has been calling for the marrying of these two areas.
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Postulates the theory of Green Library Management as it applies to the key functions of the library. This theory has been put into practice at the University of Mauritius Library…
Abstract
Postulates the theory of Green Library Management as it applies to the key functions of the library. This theory has been put into practice at the University of Mauritius Library. Reviews some of the “green” measures applied in the administration of the Reference Library and makes further proposals. In integrating the concepts of sustainability, it draws attention to the need for a meeting point between the principles of environmental studies and library studies in the merging modern library management process.
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Chigoziri N. Njoku, Temple Uzoma Maduoma, Wilfred Emori, Rita Emmanuel Odey, Beshel M. Unimke, Emmanuel Yakubu, Cyril C. Anorondu, Daniel I. Udunwa, Onyinyechi C. Njoku and Kechinyere B. Oyoh
Corrosion is a major concern for many industries that use metals as structural or functional materials, and the use of corrosion inhibitors is a widely accepted strategy to…
Abstract
Purpose
Corrosion is a major concern for many industries that use metals as structural or functional materials, and the use of corrosion inhibitors is a widely accepted strategy to protect metals from deterioration in corrosive environments. Moreover, the toxic nature, non-biodegradability and price of most conventional corrosion inhibitors have encouraged the application of greener and more sustainable options, with natural and synthetic drugs being major actors. Hence, this paper aims to stress the capability of natural and synthetic drugs as manageable and sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions to the problem of metal corrosion.
Design/methodology/approach
In this review, the recent developments in the use of natural and synthetic drugs as corrosion inhibitors are explored in detail to highlight the key advancements and drawbacks towards the advantageous utilization of drugs as corrosion inhibitors.
Findings
Corrosion is a critical issue in numerous modern applications, and conventional strategies of corrosion inhibition include the use of toxic and environmentally harmful chemicals. As greener alternatives, natural compounds like plant extracts, essential oils and biopolymers, as well as synthetic drugs, are highlighted in this review. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of these compounds, as well as their effectiveness in preventing corrosion, are discussed in the review.
Originality/value
This survey stresses on the most recent abilities of natural and synthetic drugs as viable and sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions to the problem of metal corrosion, thus expanding the general knowledge of green corrosion inhibitors.
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