Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is the practice of designing materials that reduce or eliminate the production of hazardous materials. During this program students will explore the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and learn how this philosophy is changing the culture in chemical research and industry.
This program dives into green chemistry, a hot new area that is generating jobs for researchers in the industry as well as workers in the medical and health fields. Green chemists work on redesigning agricultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical products in order to reduce or eliminate the production of harmful and toxic byproducts. Green chemists also examine the effects of harmful chemicals on human and environmental health. Understandably, this is a booming area of job growth – a new, valuable field that is generating a wealth of employment opportunities.
Through guided lab activities and toxicology studies, teens will practice the process of developing an experiment, focusing on the importance of background research prior to developing an experimental design, how to incorporate effective controls, and the importance of demonstrating repeatable results.
Take the first step toward being a part of this program by completing an application. Joining the mailing list is another great step for those who need more info or time before applying.
This is a competitive admissions summer research program designed for teens
Cost and Session Information
June 30 - July 18, 2025 | Gann/Bentley, Waltham, MA
Testimonials(10)
"I really enjoyed this program because it gave me good insight into what working as a chemistry research scientist is like. I enjoyed how much lab time we had and that we did a variety of activities and learned about a variety of topics. This gave me a good taste of a wide array of scientific topics. I thought that my teachers were engaging and knowledgeable."
- Student Comment- July 19, 2019
"I appreciated the daily lab work and working with chemicals. I appreciated learning about the 12 principles of green chemistry and how different industries were applying these concepts to their work and products.
The field trips were wonderful and I appreciated seeing how chemistry(and esp green chemistry) is being used in the world right at this moment. These helped in my motivation to pursue green chemistry and material science."
- Student Comment- July 19, 2019
"Chemistry Research is a fascinating program that introduced us to the study of green chemistry. In this program we studied real-world problems in the eyes of a chemist, balancing both academics and experimentation.
Professor Ann Lambert provided great insight into the world of green chemistry and was supportive throughout the journey."
- Student Comment- July 19, 2019
"I liked that we learned about green chemical innovations and then applied those concepts in the lab. It was interesting to learn about these solutions, recreate them, and then test how they compared to the commercial product. I also like the field trips we went on."
- Student Comment- July 20, 2018
"In the chemistry program, we learned a lot about green chemistry and sustainability. We also take in the context of the 12 principles of chemistry and have hands-on experiences inside the labs, including those on the field trips. Our teacher is nice and always ready to help us with our materials."
- Student Comment- July 20, 2018
"I liked that the program involved a lot of lab work. We covered a wide range of topics as well, and got a good understanding of how green chemistry applies to many other fields. I liked the field trips to MIT and Beyond Benign too, where we could see real research in progress."
- Student Comment- July 20, 2018
'I liked the concept of green chemistry as a lens that Ann incorporated throughout the program. Through listening to her teach, it was clear that she really knew her chemistry. She was knowledgeable and helpful about labs and our independent research program.'
- Student Comment- July 21, 2017
'I liked learning about a different part of green chemistry everyday and applying the principles of green chemistry to the labs we were doing. Ann and Russell were great. They are both so knowledgeable in chemistry and were always able to answer my questions.'
- Student Comment- July 21, 2017
'The program was really informative and interesting and that's hard to happen regularly. So that's great! We did so many experiments which is a really good way to get the information easily and fun. Mrs. Lambert was really nice, helpful and have enough knowledge to answer all our questions. She's a great teacher...'
- Student Comment- July 22, 2016
'Mrs. Lambert's approach to green chemistry was extremely enjoyable... The focus on creating a presentation at the end was an engaging experience.'
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