The Canadian Society for Chemistry’s Working group for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (WIDE) has become a permanent committee and the group’s director, Kim Baines, FCIC, has been named as its chair. This move, which was part of the CSC’s most recent board meeting, was highlighted as part of a formal commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion with concrete action that will help ensure that the society considers EDI in all of its decisions and programming.
“There has been a great deal of work by a great many people to get to this point in time,” concluded CSC President Steven Holdcroft, FCIC. “This marks a significant step in our society’s evolution to ensure that our activities are equitable and inclusive.”
In addition to making WIDE a permanent committee, the CSC board also created a new Director position on the board — Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion — which will be filled by WIDE chair Baines.
WIDE was established in 2017 as part of a strategic initiative to promote EDI. Its members are now looking forward to their continued work with the CSC on how to best serve everyone in the Canadian chemical sciences community.