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80603-01 - Vorlesung mit Praktikum: Innovation in Green Chemistry and Circular Life Sciences (3 KP)
| Semester | Herbstsemester 2026 |
| Angebotsmuster | unregelmässig |
| Dozierende |
Frank Christian Krysiak (frank.krysiak@unibas.ch)
Michael Nash (michael.nash@unibas.ch, BeurteilerIn) |
| Inhalt | This course provides a comprehensive understanding of innovation for safer and greener materials for the environment and human livelihoods, developing your mindset and competencies to enable positive societal and environmental impact. It combines principles of green chemistry, circular materials design, and innovation-driven problem solving to support the development of practical solutions to real-world sustainability challenges. The course fosters creativity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration and equips you with knowledge and skills relevant for careers in industry, academia, startups, and innovation-driven organizations. You will explore real-world challenges related to hazardous chemicals, unsustainable material systems, and resource-intensive manufacturing. Key topics include safer-by-design approaches, circular materials strategies, hazard and impact assessment, alternatives evaluation, and solution development using modern design and innovation methods. The course also develops transferable innovation / entrepreneurial competencies such as leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, creative thinking, stakeholder understanding, and impact-driven decision making. You will work in interdisciplinary teams on a semester-long project in collaboration with an external industry or stakeholder partner. Projects may address, for example, hazardous additives in polymers, solvents in industrial processes, surface treatments and coatings, materials in food-contact or medical applications, or redesigning materials to improve recyclability and reusability. Each team evaluates a specific product, material, or process and develops evidence-based substitution, redesign, or solution strategies. The course combines lectures and guided project work, emphasizing active participation and learning-by-doing in a real-world context. Experienced professionals and academic experts contribute their expertise to the topics covered. Each weekly session comprises three key components: • Introduction and exploration of core concepts, frameworks, and real-world examples, equipping you with tools to develop safer and greener material solutions. • Collaborative teamwork, where you work with peers to address real challenges connected to partner projects. • Presentations, where teams showcase progress and receive feedback through peer and expert evaluation. This course is delivered through collaboration between the Innovation Office and the Department of Chemistry of the University of Basel, together with external partners including the Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry and BaselCircular. |
| Lernziele | Upon successful completion of this course, you will: • have developed a basic understanding of the principles of green chemistry and bio-inspired design and apply them in seeking safer-by-design approaches, as well as circular materials strategies • be able to apply concepts of chemical structure and function to identify safer and more sustainable alternatives that could replace existing products, materials, or process applications • possess applied competencies in alternatives assessment, including the ability to access and interpret toxicological and environmental data, use relevant assessment and computational tools, and integrate multiple criteria (hazard, performance, feasibility, and circularity) into evidence-based decision-making • evaluate safer-by-design solutions not only from a technical and environmental perspective, but also considering regulatory drivers, market dynamics and cost-effectiveness • be able to work with external industry partners, translating scientific analysis into actionable substitution or redesign strategies • have developed the ability to solve real-world, innovation challenges thanks to a solid theoretical background and hands-on team project activities • have developed foundational entrepreneurial competencies, including effective leadership and teamwork, strategic decision-making and problem-solving skills, all tailored to meet the unique innovation-based challenges • be inspired to drive a positive change and impact • communicate technical ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral form tailored to academic, industry, and innovation-oriented audiences • demonstrate readiness for continuous learning, reflection, and adaptation in rapidly evolving sustainability and innovation environments |
| Literatur | Literature and additional materials are provided online. |
| Weblink | Website |
| Teilnahmevoraussetzungen | This is a masters’ course, and no prerequisites are required. Upon successful completion of this course, students receive 3 ECTS. Students are responsible for checking whether the ECTS of this course are credited to their study program. The course is primarily intended for Master students in Chemistry, Sustainable Development, Nanosciences Biology, Biomedical engineering, Molecular biology, Public Health and Physics of Life. Students from other study directions are welcome to apply for the course adding how they are connected to the course (e.g. major in business and economics with focus on natural sciences, energy or health economics). PhD students can complete the course on behalf of their doctoral-level ECTS. |
| Anmeldung zur Lehrveranstaltung | The number of participants is limited to 25 per course. Interested students should email Carolina Rovira Schmitt (carolina.roviraschmitt@unibas.ch) before Tuesday September 1st, 2026. Please include: 1. your name, study field, degree level (Master’s or PhD), number of completed semesters, and matriculation number, 2. Academic background and motivation: a brief description of your relevant background and experience, as well as a short motivation statement explaining your interest in participating in an innovation- and project-based course focused on safer chemicals and circular materials; 3. Interest areas: a short description of one topic of interest related to chemical safety, material sustainability or circular materials design. No prior project idea is required, since this will be provided by the partner organization. Please check if ECTS from this course will be accepted by your faculty/teaching commission. We will select participants and confirm 25 participants by Thursday September 3rd, 2026. After the confirmation email, you can enroll through the Online Services (services.unibas.ch). Eucor-Students and mobility students of other Swiss Universities or the FHNW first have to register at the University of Basel BEFORE the start of the course and receive their login data by post (e-mail address of the University of Basel). Processing time up to a week! Detailed information can be found here: https://www.unibas.ch/de/Studium/Mobilitaet.html. After successful registration, you can enroll for the course in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch). |
| Unterrichtssprache | Englisch |
| Einsatz digitaler Medien | kein spezifischer Einsatz |
| Intervall | Wochentag | Zeit | Raum |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Montag | 16.30-19.30 |
| Bemerkungen | The course is held at Innovation Garage, Kreuzstrasse 4, 4123 Allschwil. |
Einzeltermine
| Datum | Zeit | Raum |
|---|---|---|
| Montag 14.09.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 21.09.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 28.09.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 05.10.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 12.10.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Donnerstag 15.10.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 19.10.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 26.10.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 02.11.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 09.11.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 16.11.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Montag 23.11.2026 | 16.30-19.30 Uhr | --, -- |
| Module |
Doktorat Chemie: Empfehlungen (Promotionsfach: Chemie) Modul: Kernbereich Naturwissenschaften (Masterstudium: Sustainable Development (Studienbeginn vor 01.08.2026)) Modul: Mixed Topics (Masterstudium: Chemie) Modul: Topics and Methods: Natural Sciences (Masterstudium: Sustainable Development) |
| Prüfung | Lehrveranst.-begleitend |
| Hinweise zur Prüfung | Course assessment is based on course submissions and teamwork: report, peer evaluation & final presentation. Grading is pass/fail. Passing the course requires sufficient fulfillment of all two elements: • Milestone-based assignments, report & final presentation (teamwork) • Class participation including reading assignments (individual) |
| An-/Abmeldung zur Prüfung | Anm.: Belegen Lehrveranstaltung; Abm.: stornieren |
| Wiederholungsprüfung | keine Wiederholungsprüfung |
| Skala | Pass / Fail |
| Belegen bei Nichtbestehen | beliebig wiederholbar |
| Zuständige Fakultät | Philosophisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, studiendekanat-philnat@unibas.ch |
| Anbietende Organisationseinheit | Departement Chemie |