The XVII International Postgraduate Summer School on Green Chemistry officially kicked off on July 7, 2025, in a hybrid format (in-person and online) in the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. This Summer School brought together 75 PhD students, postdocs, and early-career chemists from 33 countries for an intensive five-day program on Green Chemistry. Endorsed by IUPAC, this Summer School is one of the kinds in the world that continues the legacy of its visionary founder, late Professor Pietro Tundo, to train young chemists with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to advance green and sustainable practice in chemistry for building a sustainable society. This year’s edition of the Summer School was a landmark in many ways with a record number of participants from developing countries, 22 distinguished international lecturers from different parts of the world, and strategic partnership with leading organizations, such as IUPAC, UNESCO, PhosAgro, OPCW, SASOL, etc. A day-by-day recap of this important Summer School is highlighted below:
DAY 1 > DAY 2 > DAY 3 > DAY 4 > DAY 5
DAY 1
Monday, July 7, 2025
The Summer School on Green Chemistry started by a welcome address by Prof. Francesco Trotta, Chair of the Summer School and President of the Green Sciences for Sustainable Development (GSSD) Foundation and video messages and opening remarks by Mr. Siroj Loikov, First Deputy CEO of PhosAgro. Prof. Francesco Trotta also highlighted the importance of this Summer School for an international effort in building a sustainable society and thanked partners for their long-standing support, lecturers for their dedication in training young chemists with green chemistry principles, and participants for their enthusiasm and interest in Green Chemistry. Mr. Liokov also highlighted the growing global interest in the Summer School on Green Chemistry, which has now welcomed and trained over 1,500 participants and emphasized PhosAgro’s long-term commitment to supporting science and education through partnerships with UNESCO and IUPAC in Green Chemistry.
Prof. Christopher Brett from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, presented deep eutectic solvents (DES) as a greener and more cost-effective alternative to traditional solvents, with promising applications in polymer science, metal processing, and sensor technologies. He highlighted recent advances in using binary and ternary DES for the development of electrochemical sensors and emphasized their potential for health, food, and environmental monitoring.
Prof. Alberto Figoli from the Institute on Membrane Technology (CNR, Italy) presented innovative green strategies for membrane preparation using bio-based solvents and environmentally friendly fabrication techniques. He showcased how solvents like Cyrene™ and Polarclean, combined with electrospinning and graphene-based additives, can enable high-performance, sustainable membranes for separation processes with reduced environmental impact.
Dr. Giacomo Trapasso from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy, emphasized the importance of applying green metrics to assess the sustainability of biorefinery processes. Using two case studies, he presented how metrics like the E-factor and Process Mass Intensity (PMI) can objectively evaluate synthetic pathways, highlighting a promising DMC-based route to FDME from galactaric acid as a greener alternative for bio-based plastic production.
Dr. Aurelia Visa from the Romanian Academy’s “Coriolan Drăgulescu” Institute of Chemistry in Timișoara, Romania, introduced greener approaches to the synthesis and application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), focusing on environmentally benign reaction pathways and non-toxic reagents. She highlighted innovative MOF structures developed under mild conditions and their applications in catalysis, water remediation, and electrochemical processes such as the oxygen evolution, oxygen reduction, and hydrogen evolution reactions.
DAY 2
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
On Day 2, Mr. Aleksander Antonov of PhosAgro, Europe’s leading producer of phosphate-based fertilizers and the world’s top supplier of high-grade phosphate rock, highlighted the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting Green Chemistry. He outlined PhosAgro’s past achievements in advancing research and capacity building and future funding opportunities aimed at fostering innovation and scientific excellence in the field of Green Chemistry.
Prof. Philip Jessop from the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University, Canada, emphasized the importance of using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to strategically guide green chemistry research. He explained how LCA and complementary tools like emissions databases and impact-based metrics help identify environmental “hotspots” in chemical processes, allowing researchers to focus their efforts where they can achieve the greatest environmental benefit.
Prof. Marcello Baricco from the University of Turin, Italy, presented a comprehensive overview of hydrogen’s role in the energy transition. He highlighted innovative projects, such as HyCARE and REMEDHYS, which focus on metal hydride-based hydrogen storage systems and sustainable hydrogen carriers, alongside the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate their environmental impact.
Prof. Eduardo García-Verdugo from Universidad Jaume I, Spain, delivered an inspiring lecture titled “Que c’est verte Venise”, highlighting how green chemistry principles can reshape industrial practices. Through three compelling case studies, which range from supercritical fluid synthesis of terephthalic acid to biomass-derived FDCA monomers and the upcycling of polyurethane waste using ionic liquids, he demonstrated how catalysis, renewable feedstocks, and alternative solvents can drive sustainable innovation from lab to industry.
Prof. Fabio Aricò from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy, delivered a lecture on “The Reactions of Organic Carbonates,” highlighting the role of dialkyl carbonates, especially dimethyl carbonate, as green and selective alternatives to halogen-based reagents. He emphasized their application in synthesizing bio-based platform chemicals like isosorbide and galactaric acid, showcasing sustainable approaches evaluated through green metrics.
Prof. Marco Sangermano from Politecnico di Torino, Italy, delivered a compelling lecture on “Polymers and Plastics: The Route to Sustainability,” focusing on the shift from fossil-based to biobased polymeric materials. He highlighted advances in renewable feedstocks, biodegradable polymers, and circular economy strategies, emphasizing the integration of science, technology, and policy to drive sustainable innovation in the polymer industry.
Prof. Mirabbos Hojamberdiev from the University of Southern Denmark delivered a lecture on “Green Hydrogen Generation from Solar Water Splitting over Metal Oxynitrides,” focusing on improving BaTaO2N photocatalysts through advanced synthesis and cation substitution. He showcased strategies to enhance visible-light activity and reduce defects, advancing sustainable hydrogen production for clean energy goals. Day 2 of the Summer School ended with the first session of in-person poster presentations, where participants presented their research findings in Green Chemistry.
DAY 3
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Day 3 of the Summer School started by Prof. Francesco Trotta, President of the Green Sciences for Sustainable Development (GSSD) Foundation, who emphasized the foundation’s commitment to advancing green chemistry education and fostering international collaboration. He highlighted the foundation’s role in organizing the International Postgraduate Summer School on Green Chemistry, which aims to disseminate both basic and advanced chemical sciences to students, enhancing their future professional careers.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Vânia Zuin Zeidler from Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany, delivered a lecture on “Green and Sustainable Chemistry and the Future of Food,” exploring how green chemistry principles can shape more sustainable and nutritious food systems. She emphasized a systems-thinking approach to address food security by integrating chemistry with farming, waste management, and health to create resilient and circular food production models.
Prof. Peter Licence from the University of Nottingham, UK, delivered a lecture on “Green Chemistry Translation: A Design for Life!” highlighting the challenges and opportunities in moving green chemistry innovations from the lab to industry. Using two case studies grounded in Green Chemistry principles, he emphasized the need for multidisciplinary efforts, creativity, and timely action to deliver cleaner processes and smarter materials for real-world impact.
Dr. Polina Yaseneva from UCL and the University of Cambridge, UK, gave a lecture on “Designing Green – Leveraging Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Chemistry,” presenting a practical methodology for applying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in chemical manufacturing. Through case studies on bio-based cellulose nanocrystals and terpene-derived pharmaceuticals, she demonstrated how LCA guides sustainable process design by evaluating environmental impacts across the product life cycle.
Dr. Maia Sokolova from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Finland, gave a lecture on “Chemical Safety through Science, Collaboration and Knowledge,” explaining how robust regulations like the EU’s REACH framework drive safer chemical design and sustainable industry practices. She highlighted REACH’s role in hazard evaluation, restrictions on harmful substances, and enforcement, illustrating how legislation supports green chemistry beyond the lab throughout a chemical’s lifecycle. Day 3 of the Summer School ended with visits to Venice’s historic sites and a gala dinner, offering a vibrant occasion for networking, cultural exchange, and celebration.
DAY 4
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Day 4 of the Summer School began with an introduction to the Interdivisional Committee on Green Chemistry for Sustainable Development (ICGCSD) by its Chair, Prof. Buxing Han, who outlined the committee’s mission, key activities, ongoing projects, and global membership dedicated to advancing green chemistry worldwide.
Prof. Luigi Vaccaro from the University of Perugia, Italy, delivered a lecture on “Novel Technologies for Green Synthesis and Catalysis,” presenting an integrated approach to sustainable chemistry through the use of green solvents, continuous-flow systems, and nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts. He emphasized the role of waste valorization, electrochemistry, and life cycle assessment in designing efficient, low-waste synthetic processes.
Prof. Elisa Moretti from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy, gave a lecture on “Aid4GEA – A Bridge Across the World: When Hard Science Fertilizes Sustainable Development,” introducing the newly established UNESCO Chair Aid4GEA. She highlighted its mission to promote sustainable development through advanced materials and technologies, with a strong focus on capacity building, international cooperation, and circular solutions tailored to the needs of sustainable development.
Prof. Anamaria Todea from Politehnica University Timisoara, Romania, gave a lecture on “Biocatalytic Strategies for Green Synthesis of Bio-Based Oligoesters,” demonstrating the use of enzymes as eco-friendly tools for designing biodegradable polyesters from renewable monomers. She introduced how biocatalysis enables sustainable polymer synthesis and degradation under mild conditions, offering promising solutions for circular materials compatible with natural ecosystems.
An interesting lecture on “Innovations in Sustainable Agriculture with a Special Focus on Wine and Viticulture” was delivered by Dr. Alberto Cugnetto, a winemaking advisor and viticulture specialist affiliated with the Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Italy, presenting how precision agriculture, remote sensing, and biotechnology can enhance ecological and economic sustainability in viticultural practices.
Prof. Giulia Fiorani from the Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy, introduced catalytic strategies for non-reductive CO2 valorization, focusing on the development of sustainable catalytic systems for CO2 insertion reactions. She highlighted innovative approaches for transforming CO2 into valuable chemicals like cyclic organic carbonates, revealing its potential as a green and abundant C1 building block in mitigating climate change.
Finally, Dr. Andrea Spolaor from the Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council of Italy, delivered a lecture about “The Climate Change in the Arctic,” highlighting the phenomenon of Arctic Amplification and its cascading environmental impacts. He emphasized the Arctic’s role as both a sentinel and a predictor of global climate change, where rising temperatures, sea ice loss, permafrost thaw, and pollution transport provide crucial insights into future conditions at lower latitudes. Day 4 of the Summer School ended with the second session of in-person poster presentations, where participants presented their research findings in Green Chemistry.
DAY 5
Friday, July 11, 2025
Day 5 of the Summer School started with Dr. Jonathan Forman introducing the activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and highlighting the crucial role of green chemistry in addressing the challenges related to chemical and biological weapons.
Prof. Francesco Trotta from the University of Turin gave a lecture on the “Exploitation of Renewable Resources in Polymer Chemistry,” focusing on the shift from fossil-based to renewable raw materials for sustainable chemical production. He highlighted the vast potential of biomass-derived feedstocks such as vegetable oils, cellulose, and starch, emphasizing their eco-friendly applications in producing polymers with reduced energy consumption and safer synthetic routes. Special attention was given to starch derivatives like cyclodextrins and linear dextrins, which enable solvent-free synthesis of innovative polymer materials with diverse applications.
Dr. Jonathan E. Forman from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory presented on “Eliminating the Chemicals of War and the Challenges of Chemical Security: Does Green Chemistry Make a Difference?” He demonstrated the history and impact of chemical weapons, highlighting the landmark Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) that mandates the destruction of chemical weapon stockpiles and ongoing international cooperation for chemical security. Dr. Forman discussed how green chemistry principles intersect with chemical security, emphasizing that even benign chemicals can be misused regardless of their production methods.
In closing ceremony of the Summer School, the Winners of the Poster Awards were announced, and all Poster Award Winners presented their research works to teachers, online and in-person participants in the following order:
Bryle Matthew F. Bacatan from Chulalongkorn University, Thialand on “Upcycling PET waste into Bimetallic Metal Organic Framework”
Joy Salome Dotse from the Research Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa on “Interaction of cellulose with a new phosphonium salt-lactic acid deep eutectic solvent: Amorphization vs. Functionalization”
Maria-Iuliana Chirica from the National Institute of Materials Physics and Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, Romania on “Acid modified MXenes for catalytic PET depolymerization”
Vinícius de Paula from CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal on “Mild-condition dissolution-based recycling of ABS with renewable solvents”
Beatriz Nunes Zambujal Chicharo from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy and URD-ABI AgroParisTech, France on “Sustainable Bio-Based Epoxy Thermosets from 2,5-Furan Dicarboxylic Acid Derivates with Tunable Chain Length”
Finally, the Summer School concluded with closing remarks delivered by Prof. Francesco Trotta, President of the Green Sciences for Sustainable Development (GSSD) Foundation and Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Summer School, alongside the members of the Organizing Committee and the Secretariat. They expressed their gratitude to all participants, lecturers, and sponsors for their valuable contributions, highlighting the success of the Summer School in fostering knowledge exchange and advancing green chemistry for sustainable development.
Legacy and Impact
Over the last 17 editions, this Summer School has welcomed over 1,500 students, with several alumni returning as lecturers to the Summer School. Its legacy underscores the growing global commitment to green chemistry and the formation of cross-border scientific networks. The 2025 edition not only empowered emerging green chemists with cutting-edge knowledge but also nurtured a vibrant, inclusive community dedicated to finding solutions to world’s challenges by applying Green Chemistry Principles.
For more information about the Summer School and Green Sciences for Sustainable Development (GSSD) Foundation, please check the following websites:
https://www.greenchemistry.school/
https://www.gssd-foundation.org/
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