The Messenger 03.22.10
Dr. Robert “Bob” Peoples, director of the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute, will speak on “Sustainability and Innovation in the Carpet Industry” at 7:30 p.m. March 30 in Watkins Auditorium in Boling University Center at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
In addition to being a part of the Academic Speaker series, Peoples will be the Sigma Xi banquet speaker and a guest of the UT Martin chapter of the Student Members of the American Chemical Society.
“As a 35-year member of the American Chemical Society, Bob Peoples has achieved considerable insight into the chemical industry,” said Dr. Dan McDonough, UT Martin Honors Programs director. “His work in the carpet industry has allowed him to implement his observations in a wide variety of initiatives in providing national standards for sustainability. He will provide important information on how these standards, and green chemical standards in general, may be enhanced in the future.”
Peoples received bachelor degrees in mathematics and chemistry from Montclair State University in New Jersey and a doctorate in physical organic chemistry from Purdue University. He has a long and distinguished career in the carpet industry, spending nearly 25 years with Monsanto/Solutia, during which he held several leadership positions, spanning the areas of new business development, new product and technology development and the implementation of a unified national sustainable carpet standard. He later served as sustainability director for the Carpet & Rug Institute.
In his current position, he promotes implementation of the principles of green chemistry throughout the global chemistry enterprise.
Peoples also serves on California’s Green Ribbon Science Panel and as a member of the Chemical Sciences Roundtable at the National Academies of Science. For his efforts and achievements, he was named “Person of the Year” in 2003 by the Carpet America Recovery Effort.
“Bob and I serve on the S3G-Sustainability Stakeholders Steering Group representing ACS key governance committees and the Green Chemistry Institute that was created by the ACS Board to promote global sustainability leadership through facilitation, coordination and communication. Bob provides crucial insight and perspective to S3G,” said Dr. S.K. Airee, UT Martin professor of chemistry.