Chemistry 301: Applying Chemistry to Society

When I signed up for this class, I was hesitant because chemistry has never been my strong suit. However, I was interested in how chemistry could be applied to society, specifically from an environmental point of view. Environmental reform and sustainability are some of my passions, so viewing issues such as those through a chemistry lens sounded interesting. We explored a number of environmental issues such as alternative energy sources and ozone depletion. Needless to say, I was very pleased with taking this course. It helped me to grow my views about the environment from a new perspective that I had never considered before. As a part of the Sustainability Scholars at Longwood, it was exciting to see what I have learned in our book group applied in the classroom.

The following is a paper that I wrote regarding the use of recycled metals in the production of new technology. Many materials used for the production of cellular devices are recyclable, yet wind up in landfills. This is just one example of a great opportunity that could be used to recycle rare materials and make moves towards a healthier, happier planet.