Trained as a synthetic organic chemist, Prof. Paul Anastas received his Ph.D. from Brandeis University and worked as an industrial consultant.

He is credited with establishing the field of “Green Chemistry” during his time working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the Chief of the Industrial Chemistry Branch and as the Director of the U.S. Green Chemistry Program. From 2004 to 2006, Prof. Anastas served as Director of the Green Chemistry Institute in Washington, D.C. He was previously the Assistant Director for the Environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where he worked from 1999-2004.

Prof. Paul Anastas is Professor in the Practice of Green Chemistry with appointments in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Department of Chemistry, and Department of Chemical Engineering. In addition, Prof. Anastas serves as the Director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale.

Prof. Anastas is a “Teresa and H. John Heinz III Professor” in the Practice of Chemistry for the Environment. Dr. Anastas has published widely on topics of science through sustainability, such as the books Benign by Design, Designing Safer Polymers, Green Engineering, and his seminal work with co-author John Warner, Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice.