Overview
The field of Sustainable Chemistry considers the intersection of chemistry with society, economy and environment. It embraces elements of a “green” approach to chemical synthesis (i.e. Green Chemistry) for pollution reduction and environmental remediation. It addresses the impacts of the chemical industry on society, balancing the need for doing things in a sustainable manner while maintaining industry’s economic competitiveness.
About Sustainable Chemistry and Renewable Energy
Chemistry plays a crucial role in producing everyday materials, from pharmaceuticals to paints, metal frames to plastic cups, your blue jeans, and even purified water. Innovations in chemistry have significantly improved our quality of life and lifespans. However, large-scale production processes can lead to environmental issues like pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste by-products. Problems such as ozone layer depletion, ocean acidification, climate change, and bioaccumulation of chemicals are partly due to chemical processes.
Sustainable chemistry aims to address these issues by adopting green chemistry principles. These principles focus on safer reactions, maximizing product yield while minimizing waste, enhancing energy efficiency, and using environmentally conscious designs. Sustainable chemistry considers the impact of chemical processes on current and future generations, resource consumption, energy access, population growth, and climate change, while ensuring manufacturing operates within a functional economic framework.
Why pursue a Sustainable Chemistry and Renewable Energy degree at StFX?
If you have an interest in environmental sciences and chemistry, this degree structure is made for you! It combines course content aimed towards catalysis, energy storage, renewable energy, and green chemistry with a selection of environmentally focused courses and chemical engineering content. The arts and open elective course selections can be tailored to suit your interests. Suggested courses for this component cover social, economic, environmental and philosophical viewpoints on sustainability.
Opportunities exist for students (especially BSc honours students) to become engaged in laboratory-based research with faculty members in the Chemistry Department.
Program at a Glance
| Year | Recommended Courses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | CHEM 101/102 or CHEM 121/122 PHYS 101/102 or PHYS 121/122 MATH 106/107, MATH 121/122, or MATH 126/127 | Strongly encouraged to take EESC 172 Introductory-level arts courses (Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, etc.) |
| Second Year | CHEM 231, 232, 221, 222, 245, and 265 | Provides greater flexibility in years 3 and 4 |
| Third Year | ENGR 138 CHEM 325 | |
| Fourth Year | ENGR 227 |
Arts courses of potential interest:
- ECON 281: Environmental Economics (pre-req: ECON 101)
- ECON 381: Natural Resource Economics (pre-req: ECON 101, 102, 201)
- SOCI 205 : The Oceans’ Commons and Society (cross-listed as AQUA 202; pre-req: AQUA 101, 102)
- SOCI 247: Environmental Social Science I: Problems and Paradigms (pre-req: SOCI 101, 102)
- SOCI 329: Climate Justice (pre-req: SOCI 101, 102)
- PHIL 213: Philosophy of Science
- PHIL 333: Environmental Ethics (pre-req: PHIL 331)
Open elective courses of potential interest:
- AQUA 202: The Oceans’ Commons and Society (cross-listed as SOCI 205; pre-req: AQUA 101, 102)
- AQUA 220: Issues in Resource Management (pre-req: AQUA 101, 102 or BIOL 112)
- CLEN 201: Climate Change and People (pre-req: EESC 172)
- CLEN 302: Environmental Sustainability for Organizations (pre-req: CLEN 201, EESC 272)
Future Opportunities
- Industry consultant
- Chemical research
- Environmental chemistry
- Alternative energy/energy storage
- Green synthesis for pharmaceuticals/new materials
- Government/regulatory agencies
Contact
3060 Nasso Family Science Centre
5009 Chapel Square
Antigonish NS B2G 2W5
Canada
