The Conversation Series is a grassroots initiative consisting of monthly discussion events ("Conversations") on topics of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), organized by and for the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) at McMaster University. The initiative originated in June 2020 with the #ShutDownSTEM strike, which urged reflection on anti-Black racism in academia and sparked a broader recognition of the need for EDI conversation within the department. The Conversations are informal, 60−90 min virtual events centered on specific subjects such as accessibility, mental health, or allyship. The audience (consisting primarily of graduate students, faculty, and staff) is invited to discuss the focus topic with subject-matter experts, share experiences, and ask questions. The goals of the events are to maintain a space for EDI-related subjects to be discussed; to provide key information about the subject to attendees; to support attendees in adopting more inclusive practices, and to bring awareness to the experiences of minoritized groups. Attendance numbers and qualitative observations of engagement were used to assess the success of each event. Initial observations show a largely positive response and the retention of a core audience. An increase in EDIenhancement initiatives in the department was also noted.
Uranium—selenoether linkages have been accessed for the first time, enabling the study of U−SeR2 versus U−SR2 and U−OR2 bonding. The shape of the uranium selenoether complex resembles a butterfly, and the cover art depicts a metamorphosis from the protio‐ligand (caterpillar), to the potassium salt of the ligand (chrysalis), to the uranium complex (butterfly). More information can be found in the Communication by D. J. H. Emslie et al. (DOI: 10.1002/chem.202103580). Cover design: N.A.G.G.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.