Vitals
Location: Marrakesh, Morocco
Job title: Professor and director of the Sustainable Materials Research Center, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
Volunteer role: Instructor, American Chemical Society Green and Sustainable Chemistry Summer School
Favorite element: Phosphorus
Youssef Habibi attended the American Chemical Society Green and Sustainable Chemistry Summer School (GSCSS) in 2009. At the time, he was a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University. “The experience was truly a mindset shift, and I emerged with a deeper appreciation for the power of green chemistry to drive sustainable innovation,” he says.
Habibi went on to forge an academic career in green chemistry, taking up his current position at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic in 2023. In 2024 he launched the African Training School on Green Chemistry and Environmental Sustainability (GreenChemAfrica), a summer school for the African continent modeled on the GSCSS. He recently spoke with Nina Notman about his experience with both GSCSS and GreenChemAfrica. This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Can you please tell me about your research?
My research group has two focuses. We are developing materials for water capture, water filtration, and water desalination for off-grid populations. Before this year, Morrocco experienced 7 years in a row of drought. This year, there is a little relief, and Morocco is green. My group is also developing new formulations for fertilizers to optimize the use of phosphorus and other elements while boosting food supplies. For both research areas, we are using renewable feedstock and recycling secondary resources, with most of our materials being biomass by-products; end-of-life textiles, paper, and plastic; or food waste.
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
What made you decide to create GreenChemAfrica?
Attending the ACS green chemistry summer school proved to be a transformative turning point in my understanding of green chemistry. When I returned to Morocco, I told the top management at my university that I wanted to a create a similar annual summer school tailored for the African continent. The aim is to equip the next generation of African leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive sustainable development and environmental stewardship in Africa.
What happens at the GreenChemAfrica schools?
I didn’t reinvent the wheel here; the format is very similar to the ACS green chemistry summer school. Students, postdocs, and early-career professionals spend the week learning about green chemistry principles and cutting-edge research from leading experts in this field. There are hands-on workshops and professional-development and networking opportunities. We have support from the Royal Society of Chemistry, IUPAC [International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry], and ACS. In April, we held the third edition. Some participants were unable to fly here due to the geopolitical tension in the Middle East, but this edition was still a resounding success.
“Those of us that are passionate about green chemistry and sustainability must take the time to spread our knowledge and educate others so they can also become advocates for change.”
When and why did you become an instructor for the ACS GSCSS?
The launch of GreenChemAfrica was an opportunity to reconnect with the team at the ACS Green Chemistry Institute. In 2025, I was honored to be invited as an alumnus to join the team of instructors and share my experience and the impact of my participation in the 2009 green chemistry summer school. I also contributed my expertise in the utilization of renewable resources as a key driving principle of green chemistry. Being an instructor allows me to pay it forward, sharing my knowledge and passion with the next generation of green chemistry leaders. I will be attending the 2026 ACS green chemistry summer school this summer.
Why should other green chemistry researchers contribute to green chemistry summer schools?
Those of us that are passionate about green chemistry and sustainability must take the time to spread our knowledge and educate others so they can also become advocates for change. Doing so is the only way to push forward this global movement for sustainability and make a difference to the life of others.
Have you always been interested in volunteering?
Yes. I have two quotes on my LinkedIn profile that reflect my personal philosophy and approach to life. The first, from Clayton Christensen, is “The only metrics that will truly matter to my life are the individuals whom I have been able to help, one by one, to become better people.” The second quote, from Rabindranath Tagore, is “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” These words remind me that true fulfillment comes not from passive existence but from active engagement and service to others.
