The Chemical Institute of Canada is proud to have many subject divisions that appeal to a wide variety of interests. In 2024, the Green Subject Division was established. As a newly established division, the chair, Marissa Clapson, alongside the interdisciplinary executive team, had to figure out their approach for outreach to the chemistry community.  

Green Division Vert beginnings 

Through the Division, Clapson, alongside the Green Executive Committee, aim to support researchers in forging networks dedicated to the development and implementation of green chemistry and engineering. 

“The CIC Green Division is still young, so the world is our oyster,” Clapson says.  

To extend their support to researchers, the Green Division organizes symposia and workshops for implementation at the annual Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC) and the Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (CSChE).  

Similarly, the Green Division is working to develop several awards to recognize the accomplishments of Canadian chemists and engineers focusing on sustainability and green chemistry, helping to ensure that early career researchers, research teams, and students can attend the CSC and CSChE conferences and share their contributions.  

At the upcoming CSC conference in Ottawa, the Green Division is hosting several symposia and workshops. Many of the symposia are cross listed with other divisions, highlighting the breadth of green chemistry and engineering applications in research. 

“Alongside our classical symposia, we are also proud to support a workshop for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, “Bringing Green Chemistry into Your Lab”; an interactive, gamified symposium “Exploring Green Catalysis – The Modes, The Methods, The Targets”, exploring green chemistry’s role in catalysis; and a industrial panel event “Peering Through the Mist”, focused on bridging the barriers between academia and industry,” Clapson explained. 

Another event that the Division is looking forward to, is the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Members of the CSC. At the AGM, the division will discuss the mission of the Division, future symposia proposals for both the CSC and CSChE, as well as opportunities to become involved with the Division. All interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend.  

In addition to discussing the future of the division, at the AGM, Clapson hopes to get more students involved. “We currently have two students on our executive team and hope to continue to have an equal representation of students, early career researchers, later career researchers, chemists, and engineers on the team,” Clapson explained. 

As the section continues to branch out, Clapson hopes to engage with communities such as the student-led Chimie Vert team at the University of Sherbrooke. Clapson wants to provide support, guidance, and opportunities to grow their green initiatives. 

Chimie Vert team at University of Sherbrooke 

“It is exciting to hear that there is a community of francophone chemists excited about green chemistry and the CIC Green Division,” Clapson explains. “I think it would be a great idea to find a way to integrate the students into the Division. In fact, we typically have some student representatives on our divisional executive team. Likewise, we also have a few francophones on our current executive team, so we could easily collaborate,” says Clapson.  

The Chimie Vert Team was formed in 2024, with students Agathe Fayolle, Celine Gosselin, Paul Asselin, Nicholas Fontaine, and Océane Boudreau. 

“I started in green chemistry little by little, over the course of my schooling,” leader Agathe Fayolle shared. 

Last year in 2024, Agathe and Celine went to a symposium at the University of Toronto. That’s where the idea to start a student-led green chemistry group came to be.   

The group started looking into outreach ideas within their school community. In January 2025, they hosted a “Lunch and Learn”, which was well received by the community. 

Gosselin, who oversaw putting the event together, was happy and surprised at the turnout. She hopes to organize more events in the future.  

Looking toward the future for the Chimie Vert team 

The group is looking for support on their green chemistry initiatives at University of Sherbrooke.  

Clapson hopes to see the entire group in attendance at the CSC Conference. Fayolle and Gosselin have confirmed their attendance.   

The promise of new students joining the team makes Clapson excited for the future. 

To learn more about the CSC 2025 Conference schedule, please click here!