The Green Chemistry: Green Earth project, led by Chemist Sevil Erkut from METU Central Laboratory on behalf of METU, has been selected for support under the TÜBİTAK 4004 Nature Education and Science Schools 2023 call. The activities within the project will be hosted by the METU Department of Biological Sciences and will take place between September 2-6, with 25 7th-grade students as participants.
Inspired by the “Green Chemistry” concept, which addresses environmental pollution prevention and zero waste both at the laboratory and industrial scale from an engineering perspective, the project aims to raise environmental awareness as well as fostering sensitivity and the sense of responsibility towards environmental issues. The Green Chemistry approach focuses on preventing, reducing, or finding alternatives to the potential harm that chemicals and products derived from them, commonly encountered in daily life, may cause to the environment and human health. In the meantime, Environmental Awareness can be defined as a set of practices in which individuals and communities understand environmental issues, exhibit eco-friendly behaviors, and contribute to reducing waste and using natural resources sustainably. There is a strong connection between the concepts of Green Chemistry and Environmental Awareness, both of which share similar goals related to environmental sustainability and tackling environmental issues. In line with this, the Green Chemistry: Green Earth project aims to raise awareness about waste management and sustainability, enhance the ability to implement eco-friendly Green Chemistry practices, and encourage participants to become active representatives of this change within their communities, thus setting a positive example.
The project includes a total of 20 activities that feature various methods such as experimental and observational practices supporting the applicability of the Green Chemistry philosophy in daily life, waste management, and sustainable living practices, as well as AR applications, use of digital content, fieldwork, games, design, and drama. The METU campus will serve as an ideal natural laboratory for these activities, and a field trip will be organized for the fieldwork.
In the project led by Sevil Erkut from the METU Central Laboratory, Assoc. Prof. Salih Özçubukçu from the Department of Chemistry, Assoc. Prof. Pervin Oya Taneri from the Department of Educational Sciences, and Özlem Göktaş from the Ministry of Education will also take part as experts. Additionally, Lect. Dr. Eda Tuna Öztürk, Lect. Dr. Tuğba Doğan, Lect. Dr. İ. Cihan Ayanoğlu, Res. Asst. Ezgi Bayer Kömüşdoğan, Fulya Karahan Dağ, Mete Esencan, Nazlı Demirkıran, Semiha Seda Terzi, and Özgür Norman will contribute to the project as trainers.
Details regarding the Green Chemistry: Green Earth project that includes various activities prepared by a variety of experts can be found here [in Turkish], and the event program can be accessed here [in Turkish].
