Benjamin Bowers
By Bill Conant
This Green Chemistry Graduate Student is working hard on Chemistry's newest challenge
"It's more of a philosophy," says Ben. "But you can go to a textbook and find out what green chemistry is: the idea that you are doing chemistry from a more environmentally benign standpoint; to minimize the environmental impact while still doing cutting edge chemistry." From the green chemistry website at www.chemistry.org, "Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances." Ben grew up in Lansing, Michigan. He began working for an environmental lab in Kalamazoo, Michigan when he saw first hand all of the waste and left over stuff the company had to pay to get rid off. Ben's friend working with him told Ben about green chemistry-the fact that instead of dealing with the waste after the work is done, you work with chemistry to find out ways to minimize the waste. It was then that Ben learned of the green chemistry graduate school program at UMass Boston. That program has since been moved to UML where Ben applied and got in. "It's enjoyable." Ben says. Ben puts in 60-80 hours per week between his research and teaching class. Ben teaches physiological chemistry labs on south campus. "The interesting part is we do a lot of independent research...So when you make a discovery, for a few moments, before you tell anyone else, you are the only one that knows that fact." Ben's current research includes Non-covalent derivatization-or looking to manipulate the physical properties of a molecule. This is a new environmentally good way to reduce the use of energy. He is also working on a nail polish that, when hit with sunlight, changes color. (Ben and some of the other students will be giving a lecture at the Boston Museum of Science on March 3rd.) "It's not easy," says Ben. "There's a big time commitment. In four years you will be able to walk out with a PhD and you will be able to do what you want to do, where you want to do it." And according to Ben, it pays very well. According to John Warner, the man in charge of the green chemistry program, it takes an average of 2-3 weeks for a grad student to get a job. "Green Chemistry is an emerging science. There's a lot of room for it to be expanded." Ben adds. Ben hopes to get a job right out of college. "We have companies interested in people already. We get a lot of corporate sponsored grants. With those, you are working hand in hand with the company. Hopefully they will get snatched up right after (graduation)." Long term, Ben would like to become a teacher, preferably at the University of Hawaii (and who wouldn't). When asked again if teaching green chemistry pays well, Ben just smiles and says "Yeah." |
