The importance of reconciling the continuing needs
of humankind with the protection of the environment and
the earth's ability to provide for those needs is now
better recognised. Chemistry and chemical technology
play an important role in this, though not on their own.
Interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity are,
therefore, critically important concepts. This book, the
first of its kind, provides an interdisciplinary
introduction to sustainability issues in the context of
chemistry and chemical technology. The prime objective
of this book is to equip young chemists (and others) to
better appreciate, defend and promote the role that
chemistry and its practitioners play in moving towards a
society better able to control, manage and ameliorate
its impact on the ecosphere. To do this, it is necessary
to set the ideas, concepts, achievements and challenges
of chemistry and its application in the context of its
environmental impact, past, present and future, and the
changes needed to bring about a more sustainable yet
equitable world. Covering aspects assumed, barely
addressed or neglected in previous publications - it
puts Green Chemistry in a much wider (historic,
scientific, technological, intellectual and societal)
context and addresses complexities and challenges
associated with attitudes to science and technology,
media treatment of scientific and technological
controversies and difficulties in reconciling
environmental protection and global development. While
the book stresses the central importance of rigour in
the collection and treatment of evidence and reason in
decision-making, to ensure that it meets the needs of a
wide community of students, it is broad in scope, rather
than deep. It is, therefore, appropriate to a wide
audience including practising scientists and
technologists.
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