The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, a distinguished private philanthropic entity located in California, is poised to allocate nearly $100 million (£73 million) towards an innovative green chemistry project. This trailblazing seven-year undertaking signifies the foundation’s inaugural investment centered on chemistry and will be led by the esteemed green chemistry pioneer Paul Anastas. Anastas, a key player in this domain, will oversee the initiative while continuing his responsibilities at Yale University.
The project aspires to reshape the chemistry field by concentrating on the creation of novel techniques for regulating and observing intermolecular interactions in complex mixtures. Furthermore, it aims to transform methods of toxicological evaluation by establishing an open-access toxicology platform. These initiatives are carefully designed to adhere to the ’12 principles of green chemistry’ introduced by Anastas and John Warner in 1998.
Anastas, frequently recognized as the ‘father of green chemistry’, commenced his impactful career at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and progressed to significant roles, including positions within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He also co-founded and directed the non-profit Green Chemistry Institute. After his first stint at Yale beginning in 2007, he returned in 2012 to lead Yale’s Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering.
The foundation foresees a future where open data sharing and interdisciplinary collaborations will drive foundational research and promote substantial progress in green chemistry. This initiative intends not just to foster scientific advancement but also to enable practical uses of these research findings for societal improvement.