ATLANTA — Faculty and students at Georgia State University are working to integrate sustainable practices into undergraduate science education, and a new study highlights ways to advance laboratory practices and teaching strategies.
Published in the Journal of Chemical Education, the study demonstrates how environmentally responsible strategies can be integrated into chemistry classes while maintaining academic rigor and supporting innovation.
The research was carried out in the CHEM 3110 undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory at Georgia State, where students conducted and evaluated a redesigned chemistry experiment as part of their coursework.
Principal Academic Professional Jianmei Cui , who led the study, is also spearheading a new green chemistry initiative and says these efforts are driven in large part by student engagement.
"This initiative is especially exciting because it is driven forward by students' voices and their interest in making laboratory practices more sustainable and creating a positive impact on our planet," Cui said. "Students aren't just learning about green chemistry concepts, they're experiencing them directly in the lab. Many students believe these practices will help them develop habits that extend beyond the laboratory and into their daily lives."
Other sustainability-focused initiatives are also improving Georgia State's chemistry labs, including a newly installed pump system that has reduced water use by 99 percent, with an estimated annual reduction of more than 3.7 million liters in the Chem 2100 laboratory alone.
"We are proud of the faculty driving this work and redefining how sustainability and research shape the student experience," said Giovanni Gadda , chair of the Department of Chemistry. "This kind of rigorous, collaborative and forward‑thinking scholarship reflects the spirit of GSU Chemistry and is exactly what positions Georgia State as a national leader in innovation."
Among the highlights featured in the case study are:
- Safer lab experiences for students: The initiative encourages the use of fewer hazardous materials and safer experimental methods, helping create healthier learning environments.
- Sustainability built into everyday coursework: Instead of adding separate sustainability modules, green chemistry concepts are integrated directly into standard undergraduate exercises.
- Hands-on faculty and student collaboration: Students and faculty work together to evaluate and improve laboratory activities, creating ways to reduce environmental impact.
- Blueprint for adoption: The case study offers a model for other laboratory courses seeking to integrate green chemistry into instruction.
The green chemistry initiative focuses on identifying practical ways to reduce the environmental impact of teaching labs in the Department of Chemistry while encouraging students to consider how a new framework can contribute to broader sustainability goals. The effort includes engagement from the Green Chemistry Awareness Club , a student club promoting sustainability and green chemistry on campus.
A research poster session will be held Sept. 23 as part of Green Chemistry Awareness Day , providing participants with an opportunity to showcase innovative ideas, research and projects focused on sustainability and green chemistry.
