The contributions of green chemistry and engineering to sustainable development
Nicholas A Ashford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
: Expert Opin Environ Biol
Abstract
At a time when sustainable development has become a concern of both developed and developing countries, chemistry and chemical engineering expertise and education have become more important than ever. Understanding the impact of chemicals on health and the environment, new synthesis pathways through green chemistry and engineering, substitution of safer chemicals, other chemical and non-chemical technologies. And alternatives analysis have presented new exciting opportunities and challenges for the chemical sciences. At a time when the regulation of chemicals and chemical production/ processing in the US (TSCA), the EU (REACH), and Asia (OECD) is undergoing major upheaval, and trade involving chemicals has come under intense scrutiny, it is imperative that science-based knowledge influences the outcomes appropriately. Both technical and regulatory challenges are discussed.
Biography
Nicholas A Ashford is Professor of Technology and Policy and Director of the Technology and Law Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he teaches courses in Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics; Law, Technology, and Public Policy; and Technology, Globalization, and Sustainable Development. He holds both a PhD in Chemistry and a Law Degree from the University of Chicago, where he also received the graduate education in Economics. Dr Ashford is a visiting scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health and teaches intensive courses in Sustainable Development, and European and International Environmental Law at Cambridge University, UK and at the Cyprus University of Technology. Dr. Ashford is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Ashford's research interests include sustainability, trade and environment; regulatory law and economics; industrial policy; employment; and environmental justice.
E-mail: nashford@mit.edu
