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Vision Statement
We appreciate your support in 2019.
We look forward to continuing this momentum throughout 2020 and beyond, as we grow Canada’s chemical sciences community together.
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2019 Highlights / Executive Summary
The Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) is the premier network of chemical professionals that champions the advancement of the chemical sciences. As a member-based not-for-profit association, the prime purpose of the CIC is to serve its members and help them connect, learn, and grow their careers. We have had a productive year in 2019 doing just that, and we would like to take this opportunity to share those achievements in our 2019 Annual Report.
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We Represent the Chemical Sciences
While the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) was formally established in 1945, the preceding events and societies that led to the modern organization can be dated back to 1901. For nearly 120 years, we have brought chemical sciences professionals together across the country through conferences, recognition, communities, and outreach. Today, we strive to continue to build and support Canada’s chemical sciences guided by our four pillars: grow, learn, recognize, and connect.
What We Do
- Promote the value and importance of the chemical sciences to the public and the next generation of professionals.
- Recognize outstanding achievements in the chemical sciences across Canada.
- Organize Canada’s premier annual conferences for the chemical sciences and chemical engineering.
- Connect members through a network of local sections, student chapters, and subject divisions.
- Publish The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering
- Accredit undergraduate-level chemical science programs and certify chemical technologists globally.
Our Membership Serves Three Societies
Our Communities
Our Members
in 2019
- 2020 Membership is complimentary for students attending Canadian institutions and individuals on parental leave.
- An events calendar on the CIC website was added to help members find relevant events and submit their own events.
- Our new website launched in 2019, and our print magazine became the online CIC News.
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Recognizing Excellence
Every year, the CIC and its constituent societies present more than forty awards to members who have made exceptional contributions to the chemical sciences. This includes awards for work by promising students, work in green chemistry, and CIC fellowships.
CIC Medal
Linda Nazar, OC
University of Waterloo
The CIC Medal is the top award from the CIC, which recognizes a distinguished individual who has made an outstanding contribution to chemistry or chemical engineering in Canada.
Montréal Medal
Cathleen M. Crudden, FCIC
Queen’s University
The Montréal Medal/Médaille de Montréal is a mark of distinction for an individual who has shown significant leadership or has made an outstanding contribution to chemical sciences in Canada.
A CIC Fellowship is a distinctive type of membership that recognizes the merits of a CIC society member who has made an outstanding contribution to their field. In 2019, we were delighted to award fellowships to:
- Francois Bertrand, FCIC, Polytechnique Montreal
- Josephine Hill, FCIC, University of Calgary
- Stephen Westcott, FCIC, Mount Allison University
- Mark Workentin, FCIC, University of Western Ontario
- Zhongxin Zhou, FCIC, Gilead Alberta ULC
Across the three societies, we have 17 awards to recognize the outstanding contributions of students and young professionals at all levels of Canadian post-secondary institutions:
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Our Charity: Chemical Education Fund
The CIC’s Chemical Education Fund (CEF) is a registered charity that promotes education in the fields of chemical sciences, chemical engineering, chemical technology, and related disciplines. CEF’s goal is to inspire the next generation of chemical science professionals and engage the public by developing educational materials and through outreach activities, such as seminars and conferences.
Canadian Chemistry Brings
the World Together
For the International Year of the Periodic Table, University of Waterloo and Chem 13 News magazine launched the ‘Timeline of Elements’ project, where students from 118 schools in 28 countries created hexagonal artwork based on the discovery story of each element.
2019 CIC Award for
Chemistry Education
Professor W. Stephen McNeil is the winner of the 2019 CIC Award for Chemistry Education for his outstanding contribution to post-secondary chemistry education at the University of British Columbia Okanagan.
2019 Lionel High School
Chemistry Scholarship
The Lionel High School Chemistry Scholarship is a scholarship to assist high school students in financial need in pursuing post-secondary studies in the chemical sciences up to four years.
Anita Rodrigues
Frank Hurt Secondary School, Surrey, BC
Josephine Shasko
Belmont Secondary School, Victoria, BC
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The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering (Can. J. Chem. Eng.) is proudly owned by CSChE and published in partnership with Wiley. Can. J. Chem. Eng. publishes high-quality original research in chemical engineering from around the world.
In 2019 we completed our 97th volume and reached the highest impact factor on record of the Can. J. Chem. Eng. The credit for this achievement goes to our dedicated Associate Editors and IAB members, and above all to all the authors who selected the Can. J. Chem. Eng. to publish their best scientific research results.
Welcome to Our New Associate Editors
For 2019, we welcomed several associate editors, including CIC members:
- Gisele Azimi, University of Toronto
- Fouad Azizi, American University of Beirut
- Jan B. Haelssig, Dalhousie University
- Vikramaditya G. Yadav, University of British Columbia
- Sohrab Zendehboudi, Memorial University of Newfoundland
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CIC NEWS
Chemistry has been dubbed the “central science” because of the many different facets that link it with so much of what happens in research and development. In much the same way, CIC News can be regarded as the “central medium” for information and insights about chemistry in Canada.
For 2019, we had:
Our Top 5 Most Read Articles are:
This is where you can come for the people, places, and events that bring the central science to life.
A look at the long-lived agents that plague Canada’s northern environment, and how the presence of these chemicals adds to the complicated effects a changing climate will have on this region.
A Q&A encounter with Eugenia Duodu, founder of a Toronto-based group
that offers the city’s low-income youth an experience of the value of science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics.
The lead author of a landmark report on Canada’s science policy objectives criticizes the lack of progress and calls for widespread vocal demands that the government should do much more.
University of Alberta researchers applied the latest analytical technology to compile an unprecedented on-line archive of thousands of metabolites found in a humble glass of milk.
A University of Ottawa chemist, and Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada, demonstrates how to turn a network of professional connections into an initiative for helping set more effective science policy.
A chemical engineering student at Ryerson University points out the unsettling implications of a lack of life-cycle analysis in the solar panel industry.
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Our Premier Conferences
In 2019, the Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CCCE) and Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (CCEC) organizing committees took the opportunity to design events that reflect the increasingly changing face of the chemical sciences.
New programming to reflect important areas for the chemical sciences and society, such as equity, diversity, and inclusion in chemistry, science advocacy, and the future of chemistry in Canada
The inaugural ChemiSTEAM Content—putting the A(rt) in STEM featured a juried exhibition of original chemistry-inspired art
Career development programming for young professionals to build skills and network
Revitalized industry program on topics relating to sustainability, the changing world of Canadian pharma, cannabis, and transitioning from research to a start-up company
Four plenary sessions featuring industry and government leaders on the challenges and opportunities for chemical engineering in Canada
Highlighted four leading early career researchers in the Emerging Leaders in Chemical Engineering session
Student programming focused on career development to help them prepare for the future
Industry programming, which included talks on how to scale-up research for commercialization and the future of work
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Partnerships & Community Engagement
The CIC recognizes the valuable roles that industry and government play in the chemical sciences community and we worked to strengthen our partnerships with these sectors in 2019.
Industry and Government Relationships and Partnerships
CIC joined Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN).
CIC embarked on a collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) or STEM+ workshop.
CIC/CSChE is actively engaged with the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) in the area of chemical process safety.
Increased industry support to and engagement in conferences in 2019.
National and Worldwide Community Engagement
UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals were introduced into conference programming in 2019 and will continue to be crucial to our 2020 plans.
CIC continues to be an active member in two advocacy groups providing a face and voice to the Government of Canada: Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE) and the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR).
CSC is actively engaged with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) (UK) and American Chemical Society (ACS) to advance together the chemistry and chemical sciences professions globally.
CSC is actively engaged in the formation of the Federation of Commonwealth Chemical Sciences Societies and in the development of the inaugural Commonwealth Chemistry Congress (CCC).
CSChE is an active member of the World Chemical Engineering Council (WCEC) and Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC).
CSCT is connected to Technology Accreditation Canada (TAC) and other relevant organizations.
CSC actively supports and engages in the Canadian National Committee for IUPAC (CNC-IUPAC).
CSC partnered with International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) to announce four elements for the “Periodic Table for Younger Chemists” from CCCE 2019 Quebec City. These were the last four elements before the final reveal in Paris in July.
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Moving Forward into 2020 and beyond
CIC ViRTUAL
Every year, we look forward to seeing everyone at our annual conferences. However, in 2020, one of our goals was to provide other opportunities to foster the chemical sciences community and advance our careers. We are excited to announce that we have launched CIC ViRTUAL—a series of virtual engagements, events, and webinars.
Creating real connections, virtually
Learn about the research happening in our community. Topics will include recent findings in the field and other special research-related webinars and discussions.
Gain new skills and connect with the community. The focus of this stream is broader with topics ranging from professional development, open discussions on current issues including COVID-19 and much more.
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Value of CIC Membership
