April 13, 2016

AU Alumnus Returns to Discuss Green Chemistry

On Thursday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 112 of the Kettering Science Center, alumnus Dr. Marc Klingshirn will give a brief introduction to green chemistry with selected examples to illustrate how this mode of thinking has shaped his teaching, research and career. He explains that green chemistry can most easily be thought of as "sustainable chemistry." It is a tool box that allows one to think about chemical processes from an environmental perspective.

After completing his B.S. degree in chemistry and environmental science at Ashland, Dr. Klingshirn received an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Tennessee, a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from The University of Alabama and completed his Postdoctoral at Saint Olaf College. From studying metal contaminants in Lake Erie soil sediment as an undergraduate with current AU faculty members Michael Hudson and Jeffrey Weidenhamer, to studying and developing ion-exchange resins for ground water remediation for his Master’s, and focusing on the rapidly emerging field of green chemistry in his doctoral work -- environmental issues and problems have always been his interest. While he has started to expand into the area of greener inorganic synthesis, sustainability, environmental, and efficient use (and reuse) of resources continue to be a foundation of his research. He is Associate Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Honors Program at the University of Illinois Springfield.