Terry Collins

Terry Collins is the Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry and Director of the Institute for Green Science at Carnegie Mellon University. He is a pioneer in sustainability science and green chemistry, renowned for inventing TAML® Activators, which mimic oxidizing enzymes to solve critical challenges in water disinfection and pollutant elimination. His work bridges technical, environmental, and social fairness performance metrics for sustainable chemicals.

• Education: Doctor of Philosophy, University of Auckland; B.A., University of Auckland

Collins’ research focuses on biomimetic catalysis, endocrine disruption, and oxidative metabolism. His TAML and NewTAML activators enable advanced wastewater treatments by destroying pollutants like endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals, and chemical warfare agents. He co-developed the Tiered Protocol for Endocrine Disruption (TiPED), a groundbreaking tool for identifying endocrine disruptors in new chemicals.

His publications and lectures (over 600) emphasize sustainable chemical design, water oxidation technologies, and addressing non-monotonic dose-response curves in environmental health. Key applications include pathogen inactivation, C–H bond oxidation, and electrocatalytic processes using iron-based catalysts.

• Scientific Awards: 2018 Carnegie Science Center Award for the Environment, 2010 Heinz Award for the Environment, Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, Fellow of the ACS and Royal Society of New Zealand, among others

Collins has directed the first university course in Green Chemistry, now titled Chemistry and Sustainability. His work integrates technical, health, and environmental performance metrics to redefine commercial viability in chemical development.