About
Andrew P. Dicks is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto, serving as Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies. His work focuses on transforming chemistry education through green laboratory practices, sustainable curricula, and innovative pedagogical strategies. He has spearheaded the redesign of undergraduate organic chemistry labs to emphasize microscale experiments, green chemistry principles, and collaborative learning. His research explores methods to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into education and has been recognized with the ACS-CEI Award for an undergraduate catalytic chemistry course.
Dr. Dicks’ administrative contributions include mentoring faculty and developing programs like the Chemistry Teaching Fellowship. He advocates for teaching assistant training, writing instruction, and student learning communities. His lab initiatives emphasize real-world relevance, using waste materials (e.g., McDonald’s cooking oil) and natural media (citrus juice) to demonstrate chemical principles. Notable research themes include solvent-free reactions, energy-efficient microwave techniques, and metrics for evaluating reaction greenness.
His articles highlight trends in green chemistry education, pandemic-driven pedagogical adaptations, and interdisciplinary approaches to materials science. Awards include the ACS-CEI Award, reflecting his impact on advancing sustainable chemistry education globally. Dr. Dicks also champions humor and puzzles in science communication to engage learners and foster a culture of curiosity.
