Tapping the Power of Chemistry
Pioneering researcher, innovator and educator Jim Hutchison headlined the Knight Campus’ ninth annual community science lecture, Science Knight Out, on May 1.
A recording of the event will be posted in the coming weeks.
How can chemistry help build a better and more sustainable future? That question has long been on Jim Hutchison’s mind.
“I’ve always been passionate about the outdoors and environmental stewardship,” Hutchison says. “At first, being a chemist seemed at odds with those values, but my research has focused on bringing them together, enhancing both chemistry education and chemical products, while protecting health and the environment.”
As the featured speaker at the 2025 Science Knight Out, Hutchison described breakthroughs in molecular design and share how his University of Oregon lab helped change the way chemistry is taught and applied and explore some of the ways he’s continued to help develop innovative research and educational programs at the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact — from designing more sustainable products to using brewing as a framework for training the next generation of innovators.
Jim Hutchison inside the Brewing Innovation (BRIN) Lab he helped design and build.
Jim Hutchison inside the Brewing Innovation (BRIN) Lab he helped design and build.
Hutchison's talk is titled" Tapping the Power of Chemistry, From Green Products to Brewing Innovation"
Hutchison's talk is titled" Tapping the Power of Chemistry, From Green Products to Brewing Innovation"
Hutchison’s lecture, “Tapping the Power of Chemistry: From Green Products to Brewing Innovation,” highlighted the science behind green chemistry and its real-world applications. As the Knight Campus Senior Associate Vice President and The Lorry Lokey Chair in Chemistry, Hutchison is at the forefront of chemical design for sustainable products. He is the ninth speaker in the Science Knight Out series, following past presenters such as Department of Bioengineering Chair Danielle Benoit and Knight Campus Executive Director Bob Guldberg.
Science Knight Out is annual event that is free and open to the public.
Some representative images from Hutchison's scientific career. This image is the structure of a molecule called Cofacial diporphyrin.
Some representative images from Hutchison's scientific career. This image is the structure of a molecule called Cofacial diporphyrin.
Some representative images from Hutchison's scientific career. This image shows nanocyrstals.
Some representative images from Hutchison's scientific career. This image shows nanocyrstals.
Some representative images from Hutchison's scientific career. This image shows growing silver nanoparticles.
Some representative images from Hutchison's scientific career. This image shows growing silver nanoparticles.
A pioneer in green chemistry and nanoscience, Jim Hutchison has dedicated his career to developing safer, more sustainable chemical processes. His research has focused on engineering nanoparticles, materials thousands of times smaller than a human hair, for applications in electronics, biomedical technology, and high-performance textiles. His chemistry lab at the UO has long prioritized waste reduction and environmental safety, ensuring these innovations are both impactful and responsible. Hutchison’s work has been deployed worldwide, leading to the development of new products and technologies — including the well-known sustainable cleaning product, DeFunkify, which he helped create through Dune Sciences, the startup company he co-founded.
Beyond his research, Hutchison is a passionate advocate for innovative science education. He co-developed the nation’s first green chemistry curriculum for undergraduate organic chemistry labs and co-authored the first textbook on green organic chemistry. The discipline prioritizes removing harmful, toxic chemicals from teaching labs, replacing them with safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective alternatives. Now implemented in hundreds of teaching labs across the country, it has expanded access to chemistry education for schools and educators who previously lacked resources.
Hutchison co-developed the nation’s first green chemistry curriculum for undergraduate organic chemistry labs, shown here.
Hutchison co-developed the nation’s first green chemistry curriculum for undergraduate organic chemistry labs, shown here.
The Brewing Innovation (BRIN) Lab that Hutchison helped design, and build. Here, he helps students learn the innovation pipeline, using brewing as an example.
The Brewing Innovation (BRIN) Lab that Hutchison helped design, and build. Here, he helps students learn the innovation pipeline, using brewing as an example.
At the Knight Campus, Hutchison has played a key role in developing academic programs, including the Bioengineering PhD, Bioengineering minor, and the Brewing Innovation minor. The program blends science, engineering, history, and storytelling to explore the craft and science of beer making. Designed to immerse students in the innovation pipeline, the brewing innovation program takes ideas from concept to product, using beer as a hands-on model for real-world innovation.
With over 160 scientific publications, four National Academy of Sciences reports, and numerous national awards, Hutchison has pushed the boundaries of sustainable chemistry and science education.
At Science Knight Out on May 1, Hutchison shared insights into his lab’s breakthroughs, and how he’s rethinking science education — from organic chemistry to brewing.
A recording of the event will be posted in the coming weeks.
