Education in Green Chemistry: Incorporating Green Chemistry into Chemistry Teaching Methods Courses at the Universiti Sains Malaysia

Green chemistry aims at preventing pollution and sustaining the earth; it is commonly practised in the production of industrial applications. While predominantly being applied in industrial applications it can be also adapted in education through laboratory-based experiments and classroom activities. It is also imperative to educate the future teachers (pre-service teachers) on green chemistry because these teachers have the power to access many generations of students near future. As a response to the UN declaration of a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD), at the School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, green chemistry has been integrated into chemistry teaching methods and courses. In this chapter we first provide an argument why learning chemistry becomes relevant and we discuss (1) how green chemistry can be adapted in chemistry teaching methods course, (2) the feasibility of integrating green chemistry experiments, and (3) the effectiveness of green chemistry in enhancing environmental awareness and concern as well as bringing attitudinal, motivation and value change in solving environmental issues.