This lecture is sponsored by the by the ACS Pittsburgh Local Section.

Title:  Sustainability and the Future of Chemistry

H. N. Cheng
(Retired) USDA Southern Regional Research Center
New Orleans, LA 70124
Past President, American Chemical Society

Abstract

Chemistry remains a remarkable and far‑reaching discipline—one that spans theoretical, experimental, synthetic, and analytical domains, and underpins advances across biology, medicine, agriculture, and materials science. Looking ahead, the chemical sciences will continue to play a central role in addressing many of today’s grand challenges, including the development of new therapeutics, ensuring food security, advancing sustainable energy, protecting the environment, and supporting a growing global population. In this talk, some promising future opportunities for chemistry will be pointed out. In particular, the principles of green chemistry and sustainability offer powerful frameworks for innovation. Possible directions include interdisciplinary efforts that merge chemistry with biology to create new products and processes, as well as the integration of chemistry with nanotechnology to enable novel materials and functionalities. Additional opportunities arise from converting industrial or agricultural waste into value‑added materials, and from adopting alternative technologies—such as microwave‑assisted processing—to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Together, these examples point to a vibrant landscape of discovery at the interface of chemistry and societal need. They also underscore the exciting possibilities ahead for students and early‑career scientists who will help define the next generation of sustainable chemistry innovation.

Biography 

H. N. Cheng (B.S., UCLA; Ph.D., University of Illinois) retired in May 2022 from Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in New Orleans, but he continues his active research efforts in green polymer chemistry, agro-based materials, biocatalysis, and polymer analysis. He has authored or co-authored over 330 papers, 27 patent publications, edited or co-edited 25 books, and organized or co-organized around 50 symposia since 2000. Recognition of his contributions includes ACS Fellow (2009), POLY Fellow (2010), AGFD Fellow (2018), ACS Volunteer Service Award (2016), AGFD Division Distinguished Achievement Award (2025), the Herty Medal (2022), the Spencer Award (2022), and SRRC Outstanding Scientist of the Year (2014, 2019). He is active in ACS and has served in numerous leadership positions at national, division, and local levels, including his term as ACS President in 2021 and as a member of ACS Board of Directors (2020-2022). He has also been actively organizing events, symposia, and webinars to benefit ACS members and the chemistry enterprise.