Greener Solutions
The Greener Solutions program is project based class that partners students with companies, non-profits, and/or government agencies interested in promoting the adoption of more sustainable chemistry. Every year we recruit teams of graduate students and advanced undergraduates to work closely with our partner organizations on interdisciplinary projects that leverage students' knowledge in a real-world context.
The goal of these interdisciplinary projects is to understand and characterize the opportunities for the adoption of safer chemicals and materials within the partner organizations. While many of the solutions that our students describe will take many more years of research to develop, others may be built on existing solutions in other sectors. The resulting opportunity map creates a great opportunity for the partner organization as well as UC Berkeley research to continue the research after the end of the initial semester-long project. In fact, many of the projects started in the Greener Solutions program have grown into larger initiatives at Berkeley or within our partner organizations.
The Greener Solutions program has been supported by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control, a Pollution Prevention Grant from Region 9 of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, and contributions from our partner organizations.
Apply to be involved
Download Student Application 2016
Download Partner Organization Application 2016
Our projects have included:
A proactive approach to address emerging contaminants in the informal e-waste sector with HP(2012).
Identifying new biomimetic strategies for cotton finishing with Levi's (2013).
Designing next generation chemical preservatives for personal care and home care products (2014).
Partner Organizations
