a poorly-developed technology or economic bases can move themselves forward rapidly through the adoption of modern systems without going through intermediary steps” (Cascio, 2004). Leapfrogging encourages countries to bypass the mistakes made by developed nations and move forward in a sustainable fashion. Michael and Cynthia’s sustainability endeavors have led to several publications and presentations at local, regional, national and international venues. Supported by the EPA and the American Chemical Society, Michael, along with student co-author Marc Connelly, published “Real-World Cases in Green Chemistry” in 2000 (Cann & Connelly, 2000). This book was one of the first educational materials in green chemistry. With support from the Green Chemistry Institute, Michael and student co-author Tom Umile, penned the second volume of this work in 2008 (Cann & Umile, 2008). Colin Baird and Michael co-authored the third and fourth editions of “Environmental Chemistry” (Baird & Cann, “ Environmental Chemistry,” 2004) (Baird & Cann, “ Environmental Chemistry,” 2008) and they have just begun work on the fifth edition. Michael is also currently working as part of the author team on the forthcoming seventh edition of “Chemistry in Context.” These books have been translated into several foreign languages, including Chinese. Michael led a team of five Scranton faculty members to produce web-based green chemistry teaching modules. These very popular modules have been translated into Spanish and Portuguese. Michael also serves as the series editor of the forthcoming “Sustainability: Contributions Through Science and Technology.” This book series from
CRC Press boasts nationally and internationally known authors from China, India, Canada and the United States. Between them, Michael and Cynthia have earned several awards for their sustainability efforts, including the Provost’s Faculty Enhancement Award for Excellence in Integrating Sustainability into the Curriculum, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Green Powerhouse Award, and the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. In addition to knowing it is the right thing to do, the Canns have five very personal reasons for their passionate promotion of sustainability – their grandchildren.
As Fr. Charles Currie, S.J., president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, wrote (Currie, 2009): Since this is a global issue affecting both developed and developing nations, rich and poor – but especially the poor – concern for sustainability is an important part of the contemporary Jesuit commitment to education for solidarity and for justice. The early environmental movement tended to be something nice to be involved in. Today, we are becoming more and more aware that it is a moral imperative in which we have no choice. Many of our campuses are showing us the way. And The University of Scranton is doing just that.
Michael C. Cann, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and co-director of the environmental science program, has been a member of The University of Scranton faculty since 1975. Dr. Cann is the co-author of two textbooks in the field of environmental chemistry and has published widely on the topics of sustainability and green chemistry. In 2010, Dr. Cann was awarded the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Environmental Improvement National Award for incorporating sustainability into chemical education. Cynthia W. Cann, Ph.D., is an associate professor in The University of Scranton’s Department of Management and Marketing. Dr. Cann’s main areas of interest are environmental and sustainable marketing and management. She developed and teaches the cornerstone MBA course: Responsibility, Sustainability and Justice. Her current research focuses on sustainable business and incorporating sustainability into to the business curriculum.
American Chemical Society. (2009). Chemistry in Context (Sixth ed.). The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Cascio, J. (2004, December 15). WorldChanging. Retrieved May 7, 2010, from Leapfrog 101: http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/001743.html
Baird, C., & Cann, M. (2004). Environmental Chemistry (Third ed.). W. H. Freeman.
Currie, R. C. (2009, April). The Promise of a Green Campus. Connections .
Baird, C., & Cann, M. (2008). Environmental Chemistry (Fourth ed.). W. H. Freeman. Cann, M. C., & Connelly, M. C. (2000). Real-World Cases in Green chemistry. Washington D.C.: American Chemical Society. Cann, M. C., & Umile, T. P. (2008). Real-World Cases in Green Chemistry. Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society. Carson, P., & Moulden, J. (1991). Green is Gold. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Works Cited
Day, K. A. (Ed.). (2005). China’s Environment and the Challenge of Sustainable Development. M.E. Sharpe. Manahan, S. (2005). Environmental Chemistry (Eighth ed.). New York: CRC Press. NGO Sustainability. (1992). Retrieved May 7, 2010, from UN NGO Sustainability: http://www.unngosustainability.org/CSD_Definitions%20SD.htm The University of Scranton. (2010). Retrieved May 7, 2010, from Sustainability Task Force: http://matrix.scranton.edu/sustainability/taskforce.shtml World Commission on Environment and Development: Brundtland Commission. (1987). Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. United Nations.
Fall 2010 The University of Scranton
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