Chemical Engineering and Materials Science News
Schoenung Appointed to "Green Ribbon" Science Panel
Posted on: April 20, 2009
Julie Schoenung, a professor of chemical engineering and materials science, was one of 27 scientists and academicians from across the United States chosen to serve on California’s newly-formed Green Ribbon Science Panel. Established in 2008 by passage of two landmark environmental bills signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger on Sept. 29, the panel will provide advice and act as a resource to California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control and the California Environmental Policy Council.
The department selected the 27 panel members on the basis of their education, expertise and practical experience in specific fields related to green chemistry, which is an innovative approach in dealing with chemicals before they become hazards, with an overall goal of making chemicals and products “benign by design.” Members’ qualifications derive from a range of disciplines, including engineering, materials science, chemistry, toxicology, environmental law, public health, public policy and risk analysis. All serve as volunteers.
Schoenung brings to the panel her expertise in the synthesis and analysis of materials ranging from metals and ceramics to nanomaterials and thermal barrier coatings. Her research interests also include environmentally friendly engineering techniques, industrial ecology and pollution prevention. In (what year/month?) she was appointed co-director of the new Lead Campus Program on Research and Education in Green Materials. Established by a consortium of agencies, organizations and the University of California, the program’s goal is to overhaul the research education of graduate students in such fields as material science and environmental engineering in order to create interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches that will help move society toward replacing toxic materials with green materials.
Duties of the Green Ribbon Science Panel include:
• Advising the Department of Toxic Substances Control on scientific and technical matters in support of significantly reducing adverse impacts on health and the environment of chemicals used in commerce, and to help determine the societal costs of those adverse impacts.
• Advising the department on the development of green chemistry and chemicals policy recommendations and implementation strategies and details, ensuring that the recommendations are based on a strong scientific foundation.
• Providing the deparment with a prioritized list of the chemicals for which hazard traits and toxicological end-point data should be collected.
Considered the foundation of California’s Green Chemistry Initiative, the two bills signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger last year, AB 1879 and SB 509, authorize the Department of Toxic Substance Control to identify, prioritize, evaluate and regulate any harmful chemicals in consumer products and collect vital hazard and toxicity information on chemicals in commerce.
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