Earlier this year CIC asked for applications from chemistry students to attend the Canadian Science Policy Conference, which took place in Ottawa from 13-15 November. From a wide selection of candidates, we eventually chose two: Sarai Guerrero, a Master’s student at Western University whose thesis deals with the molecular dynamics of lipids, and Kevin Potoczny, an undergraduate at University of Waterloo who is combining his interests in materials and earth science to examine aspects of catastrophic risk. After attending the conference, they have assembled the insights and inspirations that flowed from the country’s leading forum for discussing the full range of topics affecting science and technology, research and development, and academia and government. We are pleased to present their work here in CIC News.