Attendees: P.
Tundo, T. Collins, J.
Miyamoto, G. Martens, M. Poliakoff, P. Anastas, J. Breen, W. Tumas
There was a two day meeting of the IUPAC working group
following the OECD Workshop on Sustainable Chemistry in Venice Italy
(see report
from the OECD Workshop). The main purpose of the meeting was to
define the products of working group. A number of key issues were discussed
and decisions were made on what the technical products of the working
group would be. A key target is to have a cogent product (report or
progress report) for the IUPAC general assembly meeting (Berlin, August,
1999).
Key Dates:
General Action items:
The meeting focused on an extensive discussion of what
the products of the working group should be and within what timeframe
they should be accomplished. Six products were identified as key elements
of the working group. The goal of these products was two-fold:
- to communicate green or sustainable chemistry concepts more broadly
to the chemical community (industry and academia) and
- to enhance the image of chemistry to the broader community through
a more laymen-type publication.
The main motivation of these products arise from what
needs to be done to promote green chemistry and how to show that it
is a new worldwide approach distinct from other concepts for environmental
protection. These products are apparently very important to advance
the global nature of this concept, given the important issues at the
OECD workshop. The working group agreed that they needed to help define
the general concept of green-sustainable chemistry to ensure that leading
scientists are attracted to the area.
1. Proposal to IUPAC for an issue (either a white book
or a symposium-in-print-advantages of both discussed). (Introduction
by P. Anastas and J. Miyamoto)
Key elements of proposal to include:
- purpose (i.e. what the issue would be about)
- motivation (i.e. why such an issue is necessary and timely)
- table of contents (details on scope and breadth of issue)
2. IUPAC White Book or Symposium-in-Print (details and
recommendation to follow below)
Action items:
- Tundo to get email of minutes and outline of IUPAC White book
to working group members
- Working group members to add suggestions and potential authors
to outline of IUPAC White Book
3. Scientific American Article. There was considerable
discussion on the value of more general article, written for a wide
circulation periodical (options included one or more of the following:
Scientific American, New Scientist, Nature, C&E News, etc.). There was
strong agreement that such an article would be best written by a professional
technical writer. Further discussion led to a decision that such a person
would be given the IUPAC white book and asked to put together a cogent
article.
Action items:
- Investigate potential writers (Tumas, Poliakoff by Nov 5)
- Inquire of Scientific American as to possibility and timeframe
for an article (Collins by Nov 15)
- Investigate New Scientist options (Poliakoff by 11-15)
- Investigate Nature options through EU (Tundo by 11-15)
- C&E News Inquiry (Breen)
- ES&T inquiry (Tumas to Glaze)
4. Article on OECD conference results (and IUPAC Working
group) for "Chemistry
International" (P. Tundo)
5. Web Site: Working group page on IUPAC web site (Tundo,
Breen, Miyamoto)
- Tundo: offered Consortium help for putting up page (Breen assistance)
- Breen: +hot links to working group members and other important
sites-Green Chemistry Institute efforts already in this area should
be a big help.
- Miyamoto to contact Jost of IUPAC on web page.
Document for Commission: it is hoped that the above efforts
(premised on the success of the proposal) will provide sufficient documented
information to deliver to the IUPAC General Assembly at the August Berlin
Meeting.
Draft (Ideas) for IUPAC White Paper-currently a matrix
based on potential authors, potential areas and companies that might
be invited to contribute-needs further work to homogenize into something
more cogent.
Guidelines:
A number of guidelines were discussed and agreed upon
for the white book
- White book or symposium-in-print would be ok
- Blend of industrial and academic authors
- Each article an overview along with vision and cutting edge science
- Authors of scientific stature
- People excited by concept of green chemistry to share their excitement
- Introduction-overview (to follow outline from last meeting's minutes
(Anastas)
- Conclusion: where field is going, where next steps may be, new
concepts needed (IUPAC working group)
Companies, Working Group contact