Green strength sustainability: a case study of chemical engineering students

Green chemistry is a relatively new area of science and technology aimed at improving chemical processes and thereby avoiding negative impacts on human health, safety, and the environment (EHS). It is based on careful selection of raw materials for the production of various products, excluding the use of hazardous substances. The field of green chemistry has received much attention from the scientific and industrial communities in almost every highly industrialized nation. It is understandable that the principles of green chemistry should generate strong interest in countries or regions with high production capacities. Unfortunately, that industry resulted in a number of highly contaminated sites, hazardous and resource consuming production tools. A strong industrial development in European Union (EU) countries took place in last two decades focused on a profit, when there was small or no concern about some specific environmental issues. Human health and safety was rather controlled with robust standards. Environmental, health and safety protection remain a major component of co-operative activities between EU and other world. In particular, management of environmental risks associated with man-made changes, industrial, agricultural and military wastes, including risks for soil, water, air and the food chain and possible remediation are identified as one of the three priorities of the EU “Specific measures in support of international co-operation” program. These are challenges that need to be faced worldwide. With that respect, Green Chemistry is a promising approach to pollution prevention because it applies innovative scientific solutions to real world environmental situations. Green sustainability has started from educational and training institutions on entire vertical of education. In our research, we investigated chemical engineering freshman and senior students considering their perception toward importance of EHS area and about self-reported level of green competencies achievement during study. Freshman and senior students of chemical engineering estimated importance of green competencies as highly desirable. Existing curriculum in chemical engineering allows students achievements at basic level, while for high level of green chemistry; curriculum upgrade / modification is needed. It was judged that proposed green chemistry courses show potential for implementation and use at competitive higher education and training