The University of Jordan (UJ) President, Prof. Nathir Obeidat, on Thursday, welcomed distinguished Yale University professors, Prof. Paul Anastas and Prof. John Warner, pioneers of green chemistry, accompanied by Dr. Arafat Awajan, Vice President of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), and Dr. Mouayad Khalil Al-Sayed, Director of RSS Water, Environment, and Climate Change Center.
Their visit to Jordan is part of their participation in the inaugural regional conference on chemical safety and green chemistry, part of the Green Chemistry Project, implemented by RSS in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Yale University, and UNIDO.
During the meeting, attended by Vice president Prof. Ashraf Abu Karaki, Dean of School of Science Prof. Mahmoud Jaghoub, Vice Dean and Chairman of Chemistry Department, discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in green chemistry and sustainability, prospects of integrating green chemistry principles into academic programs, and exploring the latest advancements in these fields.
The guests also delivered a lecture organized by the School of Science, titled "Green Chemistry and Rethinking Sustainable Design," focusing on integrating sustainability, performance, and cost within green chemistry. Anastas emphasized the importance of prioritizing material and energy properties over mere efficiency, advocating for dynamic systems adaptable to environmental changes. Whereas, Warner highlighted industrial efforts in green chemistry for public safety and sustainability, discussing key principles like material lifecycle, recycling, and safer alternatives. The lecture concluded with examples of enterprises implementing green chemistry to create safer, eco-friendly products.