Green Chemistry in Africa

doi:10.1515/ci.2002.24.6.27b

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Green Chemistry in Africa

Published/Copyright: September 1, 2009

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From the journal Chemistry International -- Newsmagazine for IUPAC Volume 24 Issue 6

New Books and Publications

Green Chemistry in Africa

P. Tundo and L. Mammino (editors)

INCA, 2002. (ISBN 88-88214-07-0)

IUPAC has always been keen on promoting the advancement of science in developing countries. A recent contribution in this regard is Green Chemistry in Africa, the fifth volume in the green chemistry series. As the book points out, Africa’s vast abundance of natural resources offers valuable opportunities for African countries to pursue novel routes to sustainable processes. Focusing on the search for such routes as alternatives to Western methodologies –and expanding their benefits–is an exacting and exciting challenge that can render African countries extremely competitive at the international level.

The book grew out of the work of IUPAC’s Interdivisional Subcommittee on Green Chemistry, which organized the "Workshop on Green Chemistry Education," held in September 2001 in Venice in collaboration with INCA (Italian acronym for the Interuniversity Consortium "Chemistry for the Environment"). The proceedings of this conference– published as the third volume of the green chemistry series–represented the "state of the art" on green chemistry education. It included a number of recommendations for strengthening the diffusion of the chemical sciences into society through cleaner technologies. One of the most pressing recommendations was the following:

"To disseminate Green Chemistry educational materials and techniques to both developed and developing nations."

Accordingly, the subcommittee proposed the preparation of a collaborative volume on green chemistry in Africa, with the specific aim of offering university lecturers a useful tool for their teaching activities. The proposal was accepted by IUPAC and the book was published in collaboration with INCA–a nonprofit organization that encourages the diffusion of knowledge, with particular emphasis on the importance of the chemical sciences to protecting the environment. In order to pursue its mission, INCA is involved in a wide range of activities that span from research to publishing.

Some of the book's authors convening in Pretoria, South Africa (25-28 May 2002) for the first editing. From left: Liliana Mammio, Pietro Tundo, Egid Mubofu, Joseph Gaie, and Salie Lwenje.

Green Chemistry in Africa originates from the passionate work of academicians based in African institutions and it aims at familiarizing African students with the principles of clean and sustainable chemistry. The book is meant as an introduction to the challenges of green chemistry. Its primary objective is to highlight the major roles of chemistry in the study of the problems that were discussed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (held 26 August to 4 September 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa) and in the design of valuable solutions for those same problems. The Subcommittee on Green Chemistry hopes that this book will attract researchers’ and students’ attention to the importance of chemistry to sustainable development.

www.iupac.org/publications/books/author/tundo.html

Published Online: 2009-09-01

Published in Print: 2002-11

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ci.2002.24.6.27b