‘Father of Green Chemistry’ will give Borlaug Lecture Oct. 4
Dr. Paul Anastas, recognized as the “Father of Green Chemistry” and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assistant administrator for the Office of Research and Development, will deliver the fifth Borlaug Lecture at N.C. State University on October 4, 3:30 p.m., in the N.C. State Talley Student Center Ballroom. His lecture topic is “Sustainability through Innovation.” During his visit, Anastas will also engage in a roundtable discussion with students and faculty.
The lecture is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. News outlets are invited to cover this event or request an interview with Anastas by contacting Latisha Petteway, 202.564.3191.
The Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Distinguished Lecture on Global Service to Society and Environment is sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources. Known as the “Father of the Green Revolution,” Borlaug was instrumental in developing crop varieties that helped feed millions around the world. The first person to deliver the lecture that later bore his name, Borlaug died last year.
In addition to the lecture, the award for Service to Society and Environment will be presented to Dr. JoAnn Burkholder, professor in the Department of Plant Biology and director of N.C. State’s Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology. Burkholder was named the award winner last year but did not receive the award formally because no lecture was held in 2009.
Anastas is known for his groundbreaking research on the design, manufacture and use of minimally toxic, environmentally friendly chemicals. Prior to joining the EPA, Anastas was the director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering and the inaugural Teresa and H. John Heinz III Professor in the Practice of Chemistry for the Environment at Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Prior to joining the Yale faculty, Anastas was the founding director of the Green Chemistry Institute, headquartered at the American Chemical Society in Washington, D.C. From 1999 to 2004, he worked at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, concluding his service there as the assistant director for the environment.
A writer and thinker on the subjects of sustainability, green chemistry and engineering, he has published ten books, including Benign by Design and Designing Safer Polymers and his seminal work with John Warner, Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice. He earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts at Boston and a master’s degree and doctorate in chemistry from Brandeis University.
-Written by Natalie Hampton, natalie_hampton@ncsu.edu or 919.513.3128
