Abstract

One function of undergraduate chemistry courses is to serve as an introduction to what a chemist does. Typically, these courses focus on topics that are germane to industrial and academic practitioners such as synthesis, structure determination, and mechanistic evaluation. Inclusion of topics related to technology valuation is rare though warranted. When evaluating the viability of a new chemical processes or products, both the technical and financial aspects must be considered. Scientists acting as project leaders should be competent in basic financial analyses and the language necessary to communicate with their business counterparts. Technology is ultimately evaluated in terms of profitability. Therefore, problem-based case studies of technical and financial aspects of contemporary green technologies augments traditional subject matter by giving students practical exposure to the business of chemistry.