Paul T. Anastas (born May 16, 1962, in

Quincy, Massachusetts Quincy ( ) is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the largest city in the county. Quincy is part of the Greater Boston area as one of Boston's immediate southern suburbs. Its population in ...

)David E. Newton
''Chemistry of the Environment.''
Infobase Publishing, 2009, , p. 185. is an American scientist, inventor, author, entrepreneur, professor, and public servant. He is the Director of

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

's Center for

Green Chemistry Green chemistry, similar to sustainable chemistry or circular chemistry, is an area of chemistry and chemical engineering focused on the design of products and processes that minimize or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. Wh ...

and Green Engineering, Previously he served as the Science Advisor to the

United States Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it began operation on De ...

as well as the Agency's Assistant Administrator for

Research and Development Research and development (R&D or R+D), known in some countries as OKB, experiment and design, is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products. R&D constitutes the first stage ...

, appointed by President

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...

Career

Anastas is known widely for his work on the design and manufacture of chemicals that are non-hazardous and environmentally benign. He is also a champion of sustainability science and innovation for environmental protection. Anastas has brought worldwide attention to the power of molecular design to help the environment. He has published scores of articles as well as fifteen books, including his seminal work with co-author

John Warner John William Warner III (February 18, 1927 – May 25, 2021) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term United States Republican Party, Republican United Stat ...

, ''Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice''. Their 12 Principles of Green Chemistry are the basis for high school, college and graduate programs around the world and have significantly altered the landscape of the chemicals industry in the United States and other countries. Anastas began his career as a staff chemist at the EPA, where he coined the term "Green Chemistry" and launched the field's first research program. He went on to co-found the Green Chemistry Institute in 1997 at the

American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 155,000 members at all ...

and served in the White House

Office of Science and Technology Policy The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is a department of the United States government, part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, Executive Office of the President (EOP), established by United States Congres ...

from 1999 to 2004, where he concluded service as Assistant Director for the Environment. Anastas returned to EPA in 2009 as the Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Science Advisor to the Agency, resigning from those positions in February 2012 to return to Yale and his family. In his role as Assistant Administrator, he worked to engage scientists, engineers, and stakeholders across EPA, the

federal government A federation (also called a federal state) is an entity characterized by a political union, union of partially federated state, self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a #Federal governments, federal government (federalism) ...

, and the

scientific community The scientific community is a diverse network of interacting scientists. It includes many "working group, sub-communities" working on particular scientific fields, and within particular institutions; interdisciplinary and cross-institutional acti ...

to unify around the common goal of sustainability. He co-founded the chemical manufacturing company, P2 Science in 2011, the catalysis company, Catalytic Innovations in 2017, and Inkemia Green Chemicals in 2017. Anastas is currently the Director of

's Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, where he holds the Theresa and H. John Heinz chair in Chemistry for the Environment.

Early life

Anastas was born and raised in

. He developed an interest in science and environmental issues after witnessing the

wetlands A wetland is a distinct semi-aquatic ecosystem whose groundcovers are flooded or saturated in water, either permanently, for years or decades, or only seasonally. Flooding results in oxygen-poor ( anoxic) processes taking place, especially ...

behind his childhood home get bulldozed and destroyed for a development project."Green Chemistry Guru Charting New Course at EPA"
''The New York Times''. When he was nine years old he received an “Award of Excellence” from President Richard Nixon for his “outstanding achievements in environmental protection” for his essay on the founding of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As a teenager in Quincy, Anastas met and developed a close friendship with fellow green chemist John Warner. The pair have since co-authored several scientific papers and books, including the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry. Anastas retains a noticeable

Boston accent A Boston accent is a local accent of Eastern New England English, native specifically to the city of Boston and its suburbs. Northeastern New England English is classified as traditionally including New Hampshire, Maine, and all of eastern Mass ...

and is a devoted fan of his hometown baseball team, the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

. He is trained as a synthetic organic chemist. He earned his B.S. in chemistry from the

University of Massachusetts Boston The University of Massachusetts Boston (stylized as UMass Boston) is a Public university, public US-based research university. It is the only public research university in Boston and the third-largest campus in the five-campus University of Ma ...

and his M.A. and Ph.D. in chemistry from

Brandeis University Brandeis University () is a Private university, private research university in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It is located within the Greater Boston area. Founded in 1948 as a nonsectarian, non-sectarian, coeducational university, Bra ...

Press

Anastas and his work have been featured in several popular media outlets, including: *

Chemical & Engineering News ''Chemical & Engineering News'' (''C&EN'') is a weekly news magazine published by the American Chemical Society (ACS), providing professional and technical news and analysis in the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering.The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

: ''Green Chemistry Guru Charting New Course at EPA'' * WHYY Radio Times: ''Paul T. Anastas the Father of Green Chemistry'' *

Nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

: ''Chemistry: It's Not Easy Being Green'' *

Yale Scientific The ''Yale Scientific Magazine'' (''YSM'') is a scientific magazine published quarterly by undergraduate students from Yale University. It was founded at the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale in 1894. Before 1927, it was originally called ''Yal ...

: ''Paul Anastas: A Power Player in the Global Chemical Industry'' * Living on Earth: ''Sustainable Science at EPA'' *

Market Place A marketplace, market place, or just market, is a location where people regularly gather for the purchase and sale of provisions, livestock, and other goods. In different parts of the world, a marketplace may be described as a ''souk'' (from ...

: ''EPA Scientist Advocates Green Chemistry'' *

Public speaking

Anastas is known for delivering energetic, engaging public talks that challenge audience members to think differently about environmental challenges. His speeches have been called "thought provoking", "inspiring", and "optimistic". He has been featured as a

keynote speaker A keynote in public speaking is a talk that establishes a main underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address. The keynote establishes the framework fo ...

at several prestigious meetings, conferences and events, including: * The American College and University President's Climate Commitment Summit * The

Joseph Priestley Joseph Priestley (; 24 March 1733 – 6 February 1804) was an English chemist, Unitarian, Natural philosophy, natural philosopher, English Separatist, separatist theologian, Linguist, grammarian, multi-subject educator and Classical libera ...

Lecture at the

Chemical Heritage Foundation The Science History Institute is an institution that preserves and promotes understanding of the history of science. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it includes a library, museum, archive, research center and conference center. It was ...

* The

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

Commission on Sustainable Development The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was a body under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) tasked with overseeing the outcomes of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development/Earth Summit. I ...

Roundtable * The Albemarle Lecture on Sustainability at

Louisiana State University Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louis ...

* The State of Green Business Forum * The Distinguished

Borlaug Norman Ernest Borlaug (; March 25, 1914September 12, 2009) was an American agronomist who led initiatives worldwide that contributed to the extensive increases in agricultural production termed the Green Revolution. Borlaug was awarded multiple ...

Lecture at

NC State University North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina s ...

Awards

Anastas has been recognized for his work with several awards, including: *2021: Volvo Environmental Prize *2018: Honorary Doctorate of Science,

, US *2017:

US Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it began operation on De ...

Lifetime Achievement Award *2017: Italian Chemical Society, Silver Seal Medal *2017:

Sigma Xi Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society () is an international non-profit honor society for scientists and engineers. Sigma Xi was founded at Cornell University by a faculty member and graduate students in 1886 and is one of the oldest ...

Distinguished Lecturer *2016:

Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) is made up of professors in academic programs throughout the world who provide education in the sciences and technologies of environmental protection. The headquarters are lo ...

, Frontier in Research Award *2016:

Royal Society of Chemistry The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a learned society and professional association in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemistry, chemical sciences". It was formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Chemical Society, the ...

, Green Chemistry Award *2016: Honorary Doctorate of Science in chemistry,

McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...

, Montreal, Canada *2015:

Emanuel Merck Lectureship The Emanuel Merck Lectureship was founded in 1992 by Technische Universität Darmstadt and Merck KGaA located in Darmstadt, Germany. The lectureship aspires to enlighten scientists and students at Technische Universität Darmstadt, as well as Merck ...

Prize *2012: Wöhler Prize,

Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker The German Chemical Society () is a learned society and professional association founded in 1949 to represent the interests of German chemists in local, national and international contexts. GDCh "brings together people working in chemistry and th ...

(GDCh) *2012: Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award *2012:

Alumni Achievement Award *2011: The

Rachel Carson Rachel Louise Carson (May 27, 1907 – April 14, 1964) was an American marine biologist, writer, and conservation movement, conservationist whose sea trilogy (1941–1955) and book ''Silent Spring'' (1962) are credited with advancing mari ...

Environmental Award from the Natural Products Association * 2008: The Annual Leadership in Science Award (with John Warner) from the Council of Scientific Society Presidents * 2007: The John Jeyes Award from the

* 2006: The 12th Annual

Heinz Award The Heinz Awards are individual achievement honors given annually by the Heinz Foundations, Heinz Family Foundation. The Heinz Awards each year recognize outstanding individuals for their innovative contributions in three areas: the Arts, the Eco ...

for the Environment * 2005: The

Scientific American ''Scientific American'', informally abbreviated ''SciAm'' or sometimes ''SA'', is an American popular science magazine. Many scientists, including Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla, have contributed articles to it, with more than 150 Nobel Pri ...

50 Award for Policy Innovation * 2004: The Inaugural Canadian Green Chemistry Award * 2002: The Greek Chemical Society Award for Contributions to Chemistry *2001: Recognized by President George W. Bush for “Distinguished Service on September 11, 2001” noting his “dedicated service to the White House and the Executive Office of the President following the attack on the United States of America” while he was serving in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. * 1999: The Nolan Sommer Award for Distinguished Contributions to Chemistry * 1999: The Joseph Seifter Award for Scientific Excellence * 1998: The Vice President's Hammer Award for reinventing government recognizing his work in establishing the U.S. Green Chemistry Program. *1991: President H.W. Bush’s Point-of-Light Award for volunteer service Anastas was a special professor at the

University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, England. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. Nottingham's main campus (University Park Campus, Nottingh ...

and an honorary professor at Queens University of Belfast where he was also awarded an honorary doctorate.

References

External links

Paul T. Anastas' publication list
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anastas, Paul 21st-century American chemists Brandeis University alumni People from Quincy, Massachusetts Yale University faculty Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science faculty Living people University of Massachusetts Boston alumni Fellows of the American Chemical Society People of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science and Technology Policy officials Obama administration personnel 1962 births