SAFER SCIENCE™ MASTERCLASS
A powerful learning series designed to help educators build, sustain, and strengthen science safety practices in classrooms, labs, and learning spaces across K–12 schools.
✔️ All sessions are recorded
✔️ Certificates of completion are available
✔️ Every session includes downloadable tools and planning templates
Each session focuses on a real-world safety challenge and gives you the tools to address it with clarity, confidence, and collaboration. Whether you're a teacher, lab tech, department chair, or administrator, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies, downloadable templates, and a growing support network.
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- 1-hour webinars, once a month — always free, always practical.
- Tools you can use immediately.
- Community support through Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning
2026 Masterclass: From Foundations to Futures
This series centers on sustainability—not just in chemistry, but in how we build science safety cultures that last. We’ll help you start strong with department-wide buy-in, grow safer classroom routines, and wrap up with legacy-building strategies that carry your work forward.
Learn to lead safety change that doesn’t depend on a single person, checklist, or panic moment.
Foundations First
Building Department Buy-In (Oct. 23)
Teaching Safety
Lessons, Agreements, and Culture (Nov. 13)
Safer Substitutes
Replacing Hazardous Labs with Greener Alternatives (Dec. 11)
Beyond Chemistry
Safety in Life Science, Environmental, and Physics Labs (Jan. 15)
What Goes Where
Chemical Storage 2.0 (Feb. 12)
Gloves, Gowns, Goggles
Matching PPE to Your Hazards (Mar. 19)
Safety Committee
From Lone Advocate to Team Effort (Apr. 16)
Passing the Torch
Creating a Safety Legacy When You Leave or Retire (May 14)
What You'll Get:
- 8 live and recorded webinars throughout the school year
- Action-ready resources, templates, and classroom tools
- Certificates of participation for CEUs or district PD hours
- Ongoing support and connection through our professional community on Beyond Benign's GCTLC
- Guidance from LSI’s safety experts with deep K–12 experience
Who Should Attend
- Elementary, middle, and high school science teachers
- Lab managers and science instructional coaches
- Department chairs and science curriculum leads
- Administrators, safety officers, and school/district leadership
- Anyone responsible for science safety, storage, and instruction
Whether you're just starting or leading the charge, you'll find resources tailored to your role.
What Educators Are Saying
“The concrete examples are amazing.”
“I liked learning about safety as a holistic approach.”
Whether you're replacing labs, organizing storage, or preparing to pass the torch, this year’s Safer Science Masterclass will meet you where you are and help you build what’s next. Join us for a year of growth, guidance, and practical tools to strengthen your science program—for today and tomorrow.
Register in 2025/2026 Masterclass
$150 / seat with group discount
Join the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community
Get 2024-2025 Masterclass Series Recordings
Foundations First: Building Department Buy-In for a Safer Science Year
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST on Zoom (Masterclass participants will receive access info. If you cannot attend the live session, you will receive a recording.)
Start the year with a united vision for safety. This session focuses on building collective buy-in within your science department by setting shared goals, defining team roles, and designing a manageable, year-long plan for safety growth. Whether you're leading a team or the only science teacher in your school, you’ll leave with tools to make safety a shared priority—not just a personal burden.
- How to hold a meaningful "safety kickoff" meeting for your department
- Collaborative goal-setting using the Safer Science Framework
- Tools for assigning and rotating responsibilities (inventory, PPE checks, waste disposal, etc.)
- Templates for a year-at-a-glance safety plan (monthly focuses, PD goals, etc.)
- Quick wins that make safety feel doable from day one
Why this matters:
Safety programs fall apart without buy-in. Teachers report burnout when they're the only one who cares. A unified department approach builds sustainability, trust, and accountability—laying the groundwork for everything else.
Teaching Safety to Students: Lessons, Agreements, and Culture
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST on Zoom (Masterclass participants will receive access info. If you cannot attend the live session, you will receive a recording.)
Go beyond rules and consequences—learn how to embed safety into student thinking, routines, and lab learning. This session focuses on age-appropriate agreements, discussion strategies, and practical tools to build a culture of safety that students own.
- Sample student safety agreements and lesson ideas
- Using the “4 Big Questions” to teach risk thinking
- Integrating safety into inquiry-based labs
- Tips for safety mini-lessons and daily reminders
Why this matters:
Student buy-in is essential. Contracts alone won’t change behavior—but engaging students in safety reasoning will.
Safer Substitutes: Replacing Hazardous Labs with Greener Alternatives
Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST on Zoom (Masterclass participants will receive access info. If you cannot attend the live session, you will receive a recording.)
Explore how to make labs safer without losing engagement or rigor. This session shares strategies and examples for swapping hazardous chemicals with safer options, adapting experiments, and introducing green chemistry concepts.
- Identifying hazardous labs and common substitution mistakes
- Case studies of safer alternatives at various grade levels
- Intro to the 12 principles of green chemistry
- How to align with state standards and NGSS while staying safe
Why this matters:
Teachers want to reduce hazards but often don’t know where to start. Greener labs improve safety and sustainability at the same time.
Beyond Chemistry: Safety in Life Science, Environmental, and Physics Labs
Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST on Zoom (Masterclass participants will receive access info. If you cannot attend the live session, you will receive a recording.)
Safety isn’t just for chemistry. This session explores unique risks in biology, environmental science, anatomy, and physics—and provides practical tools to keep non-chemistry labs safe and compliant.
- Risks related to dissections, cultures, electricity, fieldwork, and more
- Guidance on PPE, storage, and disposal for non-chemical hazards
- Life science-specific contract language and protocols
- Integrating safety into non-traditional science activities
Why this matters:
Many science teachers don’t identify their classrooms as “labs,” even when hazards are present—leaving gaps in preparation and protection.
What Goes Where (and Why): Chemical Storage 2.0
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST on Zoom (Masterclass participants will receive access info. If you cannot attend the live session, you will receive a recording.)
Chemical storage goes far beyond “keep acids and bases separate.” This session will dive into chemical families, compatibility, and creative solutions for limited storage space. You’ll also learn how to document and maintain a compliant system.
- Chemical compatibility (oxidizers, flammables, corrosives, toxics)
- Storage cabinet types, ventilation needs, and labeling rules
- Mapping storage for shared or compact classrooms
- Inventory alignment with safer purchasing
Why this matters:
Improper chemical storage can lead to dangerous reactions, exposures, and even fires—and it’s one of the most common violations in schools.
Gloves, Gowns, Goggles: Matching PPE to Your Hazards
Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST on Zoom (Masterclass participants will receive access info. If you cannot attend the live session, you will receive a recording.)
Not all PPE is created equal. This masterclass helps teachers choose the right protection for their activities—from glove materials to eye protection—and teaches how to train students in correct use.
- Glove selection based on chemical compatibility
- When to use goggles vs. face shields vs. safety glasses
- Aprons, lab coats, and materials that meet the moment
- How to explain and justify PPE to students (and admins)
Why this matters:
Mismatched or poorly used PPE creates a false sense of security and undermines safety. Teachers need clarity, not just compliance.
Building Your Safety Committee: From Lone Advocate to Team Effort
Thursday, April 16, 2026 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST on Zoom (Masterclass participants will receive access info. If you cannot attend the live session, you will receive a recording.)
You don’t have to do it alone. Learn how to form or strengthen a school or district safety committee that supports shared leadership and long-term improvements. This session provides structure, templates, and practical guidance.
- Roles and responsibilities of a school safety committee
- Sample agendas, goals, and workflows
- How to recruit members and gain admin support
- Using committees to track inspections, training, and improvements
Why this matters:
Safety improves when it’s a team effort—but most schools don’t have a clear safety leadership model in place.
Passing the Torch: Creating a Safety Legacy When You Leave or Retire
Thursday, May 14, 2026 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST on Zoom (Masterclass participants will receive access info. If you cannot attend the live session, you will receive a recording.)
Whether you’re preparing to retire or transitioning roles, this session helps you create a strong safety handoff. Learn how to document your systems, organize the storeroom, and support the next safety lead.
- What to include in a safety legacy binder
- Chemical inventory files, SOPs, training records, vendor contacts
- How to mentor a successor and communicate with admin
- Creating long-lasting safety structures beyond individuals
Why this matters:
When safety knowledge leaves with the teacher, programs fall apart. Planning ahead protects students, staff, and the culture you’ve built.