Greening the Practical Chemistry Curricula at Sultan Qaboos University and Omani Governmental School

Dealing with hazardous chemicals at schools and universities in Oman is very undesirable not only because of accidents, the dangerous waste generated, or the cost involved in both the purchase and disposal but also due to its direct short-term and long-term adverse effects on both public health and the environment. As risk is proportional to both hazards and exposure, reducing the risk of chemicals by working with greener chemicals is the main principle in Green chemistry. The other green chemistry principles add to a safer work environment for students, technicians, and supervisors. This project aims to revise all the experimental courses offered currently at the Department of Chemistry at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), and the practical chemistry experiments involved in the governmental schools? curricula in Oman, in a way to replace the chemistry experiments, that involve hazards in both chemicals and design, by safer ones through many aspects of green chemistry applications. The criteria of greening will follow the hierarchy: (1) replacing the hazardous chemicals with safer ones, (2) consuming less amount of chemicals, (3) producing less hazardous waste, (4) minimizing the cost, and (5) improving experimental conditions for more accuracy and precision. Alternative experiments will be also offered if replacing the chemicals is not possible in a currently running hazardous experiment. 17 practical courses currently running at the department of Chemistry at SQU will be investigated including 3 general chemistry, 4 analytical chemistry, 4 organic chemistry, 3 applied chemistry, 1 inorganic chemistry, and 2 physical chemistry courses. The practical chemistry components currently taught in the governmental Omani schools in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades will be also revised by the project team that involves both experiences from SQU and the Ministry of Education. The greening process of practical curricula in the Ministry of Education will follow the same criteria mentioned above. The application of green chemistry in education from a young age will reflect on the students as they are future employees, teachers, doctors, ministers, and company CEOs. The implementation of green chemistry principles in chemistry education in schools and universities is a major step towards making Oman?s vision 2040 a reality for promoting environmental sustainability, a green economy, better health and prosperity.