Chemistry for the Future: From Basic Science to Real-World Impact

The future of chemistry depends on molecules, materials, and processes that are functional, efficient, adaptive, healthful, and inherently sustainable. Achieving this vision requires innovation and design that eliminate harm, prioritize renewable resources, and utilize inherently safe and degradable substances. It also calls for a transformation in manufacturing—from centralized and static to distributed, dynamic, and continuous—and alignment across education, investment, and policy to empower chemists to advance molecular ingenuity in concert with planetary well-being. This symposium will explore emerging examples of chemistry for the future, such as biomimicry-inspired systems that heal, reorganize, or optimize their function; harnessing weak, reversible forces to achieve superior performance with less energy; advances in monitoring reactions in complex mixtures to enhance circularity and efficiency; and predictive toxicology that enables design for reduced hazard before synthesis. These innovations redefine performance, safety, and sustainability as interdependent priorities rather than competing goals. Following the session presentations,interactive roundtable discussions will catalyze new conversations spanning academia and industry, fostering collaborative projects that apply fundamental insights to real-world challenges. Invited vignettes from nontraditional voices; such as architects, urban designers, and manufacturers—will frame societal needs and stimulate ideation. By showcasing advances in science, education, policy, and private-sector engagement, this symposium seeks to chart a path toward a regenerative, resilient, and equitable chemical enterprise—one that delivers human and planetary well-being through intentional design.

Hanno Erythropel, Ph.D., Yale University

Lars Ratjen

Paul Anastas, Yale University

Peter Licence, The University of Nottingham

Hanno Erythropel, Ph.D., Yale University

Lars Ratjen

Paul Anastas, Yale University

Peter Licence, The University of Nottingham