The Green Chemistry Challenge Awards are to recognise and promote fundamental and innovative chemical methods that accomplish pollution prevention through source reduction and that have broad applicability in industry, and to recognise contributions to education in Green Chemistry. Green chemistry is relevant to all Divisions of the Institute and the Awards are non-Divisional based.

Green Chemistry involves a reduction in or elimination of the use or generation of hazardous materials, including feedstock, reagents, solvents, products, and by-products, from a chemical process. Green chemistry encompasses all aspects and types of chemical processes, including synthesis, catalysis, analysis, monitoring, separations and reaction conditions, that reduce impacts on human health and the environment relative to the current state of the art.

The evaluation of the new technology's impact will include considerations of the health and environmental effects throughout the technology's lifecycle with recognition of the necessity for incremental improvements.

The Green Chemistry Challenge Awards are open to all individuals, groups and organisations, both non-profit and for profit, including academia, government, and industry. The nominated green chemistry technology must have reached a significant milestone within the past 5 years in Australia (e.g. been researched, demonstrated, implemented, applied, patented, etc.).

Scope Focus Areas

Nominated Green Chemistry technologies should be an example of one or more of the following three focus areas:

1. The use of alternative synthetic pathways for Green Chemistry, such as:

   • Catalysis/biocatalysis.

   • Natural processes, such as photochemical and biomimetic processes.

   • Alternative feedstocks that are more innocuous and renewable (e.g. biomass).

2. The use of alternative reaction conditions for Green Chemistry, such as:

   • Use of solvents that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment.

   • Increased selectivity and reduced wastes and emissions.

3. The design of alternative chemicals that are, for example,

   • Less toxic than current alternatives.

   • Inherently safer with regard to accident potential.

Selection Criteria

Judgement of Green Chemistry technologies nominated for an award will be based on whether they meet the following criteria (where applicable):

1. The nominated chemistry technology must fall within the scope of the program and at least one of the focus areas.

2. The nominated chemistry technology should offer human health and/or environmental benefits.

The technology might, for example:


• Reduce toxicity (acute or chronic), illness or injury, flammability, explosion potential, emissions or other releases, transport of hazardous substances, or use of hazardous substances in reaction processes.

• Improve usage of natural resources, such as renewable feedstocks.

• Enhance biodiversity.

3. The nominated chemistry technology should be generally applicable to a large and broad-based segment of chemical manufacturers, users, or society at large. The nominated technology should offer at least the following:

• A realistic approach to green chemistry.

• A remedy to a real environmental management problem. Features that can be transferred readily to other facilities, locations, and industry sectors.

• The nominated chemistry technology should be innovative and of scientific merit. The technology should be, for example:

• Original (i.e. never employed before).

• Scientifically valid. That is, can the nominated technology or strategy stand up to scientific scrutiny through peer review? Has the mechanism of action been thoroughly elucidated through sound scientific research?

The judging panel will look for as much detail (non-proprietary) as possible about the nominated technology. Specifics of the chemistry, including comparisons to an existing technology, toxicity data, quantities of hazardous substances being reduced or eliminated, degree of implementation in commerce, and other technical, human health, environmental, and economic benefits, will both assist the judging panel in evaluating a nomination and enhance the prospects of a nomination .

An award on the basis of contribution to Green Chemistry education will be evaluated on the basis of innovation, impact, community involvement, etc.

Award Categories

Several awards will be made. Awards may be made in the following:

• Projects from any of the small business sector in any of the scope focus areas.*

• An academic or government institution for a project in any of the scope focus areas.

• Green Chemistry education.

Nominations

Self-nominations are allowed and expected. Nominations (4 copies) must be submitted on a typed, single-spaced report that is no longer than eight pages. Submissions longer than eight pages in total will not be accepted.

The report must include the following:

1. A one-page cover sheet with a project title followed by the complete names (with titles), addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses (if available) of the following individuals or organisations:

• Prime sponsor (individual or organisation that owns the project or, in the case of academic projects, is the principal investigator).

• Contact person(s) (individual who is responsible for communications with the awards program sponsors). For academic nominations, the contact will likely be the principal investigator. For government and industrial nominations, the contact will likely be a project manager or other technical representative. Industrial nominations should also include a public relations contact.

• Contributor(s) (individual or organisation that provided financial or technical support for project development or implementation).

2. The cover sheet should be followed by a page containing the following information:

• Project title.

• Statement affirming that the nominated technology has been researched, demonstrated, implemented, and/or applied in Australia within the past 5 years (education award excepted)

• Statement indicating whether the nominated technology is eligible for either the small business or academic/government award, or education award.

• Statement indicating within which of the three focus areas the nominated project can be categorised (education award excepted). (If the nominated technology falls within more than one focus area, a primary focus area should be designated).

• A technical abstract not to exceed 200 words that briefly describes the nominated project.

3. The third page should consist of a one-page executive summary of the nominated project. Please repeat the project title on this page.

4. The remaining five pages can be used to detail how the nominated project meets the selection criteria. Explain the following:

• How the technology meets the scope and focus area(s) of the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards.

• All human health and/or environmental benefits of the technology.

• How the technology is innovative and of scientific merit. (Some criteria might not apply to every nominated project. Such instances should be indicated where appropriate.)

• In the case of a nomination for an award in the education category, use the five pages to document the achievements in this area.

Judging Entries

A panel of technical experts selected by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute will judge the entries. These experts might include members of the scientific, industrial, governmental, educational and environmental communities.

To assure fairness, judges will compare entries only with others in the same award category. Judges may request verification of any chemistry described or claims made in entries that are selected as finalists. The judges will select the chemistry projects/contributions that best meet the selection criteria as award recipients.

Notification of Winners

Winners will be notified prior to the official public announcement, which will be made after the July Board Meeting. An award will be presented to the primary sponsor of the winning Green Chemistry project in each of the three award categories. Certificates will be presented to individuals (as identified by the primary sponsor) who contributed to the research, development, or implementation of the chemistry, or activities in education.

*A small business is defined here as one with annual sales of less than $10 million including all domestic and foreign sales by the company, its subsidiaries, and its parent company.

Sample Cover Page

Please use the format below for the cover page of your nomination.

Title of Nomination

Primary Sponsor:
Full name
Title
Address
Phone
Fax
Email (if available)

Contact Person(s):
Full name
Title
Address
Phone
Fax
Email (if available)

Contributor(s):
Full name
Title
Address
Phone
Fax
Email (if available)

Prime sponsor - Individual or organisation that owns the project. In the case of academics, the principal investigator.
Contact person(s) - Individual available for communication about the nomination.
Contributor(s) - Individual or organisation that provided financial or technical support for the nominated project.

Award Nomination Checklist

• Cover page.
• Technical abstract (200 words or less).
• Statement affirming that the project has been researched, demonstrated, implemented, and/or applied in Australia within the past 5 years.
• Statement indicating whether the nomination is eligible for either the "Academic" or "Business" category.
• Executive summary (one page).
• project description (5 pages or less).
• An original typed copy of the nomination.
• 4 photocopies of the nomination.

Applications (4 copies) close 30th April each year and should be forwarded to The RACI National Office, 21 Vale Street, North Melbourne Vic 3051.

Back to top