The University of Toronto’s Electrochemical Society (ECS) Student Chapter is being reactivated by a dedicated group of graduate students, including a postdoctoral fellow, with a shared goal of strengthening connections across the University’s growing electrochemistry community.
The executive team includes ChemE PhD students Ghazal Shafiee (President), Emma Lord (Co-Vice President) and Frank Li (Treasurer), alongside Lidia Nemtsov (Co-Vice President) from the Department of Chemistry, and Kaige Shi, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering.
The initiative to relaunch the chapter was driven by both opportunity and experience. With new electrochemistry faculty members joining U of T, alongside an already strong foundation of expertise, the team saw a timely moment to reconnect and grow the community across departments. As Lord explains, “Ghazal, Lidia, and I all completed previous degrees at Western University, where the electrochemistry community and connections were strong and the ECS Student Chapter was very active. We loved having a connected community at Western and wanted to help bring together the community here at U of T.”
Why Now? A Field on the Rise
The team emphasizes that the timing for reactivation could not be better. Electrochemistry is rapidly expanding in both academic and industrial contexts, particularly as the world seeks solutions to pressing global challenges.
Lord notes, “With electrochemistry being a topic on the rise in our department and around the world, and electrochemistry being so important as we search for global solutions to the energy crisis, it feels like the perfect time to bring everyone working in these fields together. Not only is electrochemistry important for the energy crisis, but electrochemistry is a central topic in biosensor development, corrosion, luminescence, catalysis, and more.”
Shafiee highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the field: “As research becomes increasingly interdisciplinary, electrochemistry has become a foundation or even a tool for many diverse fields. Now, by reactivation of this chapter, we can think beyond our individual research projects and build a common space to exchange our knowledge.”
Li adds, “It does not make sense for this community to simply not exist at the top University in Canada, therefore it is always the right time to bring this community back and in the earliest delays. Considering the significant research efforts across various disciplines towards electrochemical processes and the seemingly lack of connections between research groups, bringing the ECS student chapter back to the broad daylight is, without any doubts, the right thing to do.”
Global Recognition and a Shared Mission
The chapter has now received official approval and recognition from The Electrochemical Society, a milestone that enables broader collaboration and access to valuable resources.
“It was an honour to receive official approval and recognition from The Electrochemical Society as it brings official recognition to our chapter and helps us collaborate with a bigger electrochemical community around the world,” the team shares. “It also allows us to gain access to various resources provided by the ECS for students.”
At its core, the chapter is focused on fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. Its mission is to build a student network that deepens collective understanding of electrochemistry and solid state science, while supporting undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, through mentorship, networking, and shared learning.
Addressing Today’s Challenges Through Electrochemistry
The team also underscores the relevance of electrochemistry in addressing major global issues such as clean energy, sustainability, and advanced materials.
“As we work toward a future where we want to shift to cleaner energy sources, we will need large-scale storage of this energy to make its use feasible and practical,” says Lord. “Developing battery solutions to help with this energy storage is essential, and we need a deep understanding of electrochemistry to tackle this challenge.”
Shafiee adds, “Electrochemistry potentially provides a solution to overcoming energy storage challenges and helps to close the carbon cycle, promising a more sustainable future.”
Li emphasizes the breadth of applications: “Electrochemistry is a high-interest field with applications not only in energy generation and storage, but also in sustainable chemical manufacturing, and post-consumer waste management. Developments in electrochemistry may provide an alternative pathway to high energy, carbon intensive and high cost processes.”
Opportunities for Students and Researchers
The chapter aims to offer a wide range of opportunities for engagement and learning, including:
- Graduate student and postdoctoral fellow-led lectures on key topics in electrochemistry and solid state science
- Talks from faculty members and industry professionals
- Industry and laboratory tours
- A proposed student symposium within the next year
Membership in the chapter is open to any undergraduate or graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, with an interest in electrochemistry or solid state science. Topics of interest span areas such as batteries and energy storage, fuel cells, electrocatalysis, corrosion science, electrochemical sensors, electronic materials, photonic systems, and more.
Kick-Off Event: April 2
The chapter will officially launch with a kick-off meeting on Thursday, April 2, from 1:00–2:00 pm in the Wallberg Building, Room 407, with a virtual option available. The event will include an introduction to the chapter’s goals, followed by a 20-minute lecture from Professor Donald Kirk, and a networking session.
The team shares, “We were honoured to have Professor Kirk as both our first speaker and as one of the faculty advisors for our chapter. With Professor Kirk’s accomplishments in the field of electrochemistry, depth of experience, and willingness to support students, we knew he would be the perfect first speaker.”
They also note his connection to the chapter’s history: “Professor Kirk was the faculty advisor of the chapter 6 years ago, so we are excited to learn more from him on what the chapter previously offered and how we can bring this community together!”
Attendees can expect an engaging session with opportunities to connect with peers while enjoying refreshments. The team welcomes all interested students and postdoctoral fellows: “We are so excited to meet and connect with you. Even if you decide not to be part of the chapter, we’d love to have you at our kick-off event!”
Looking Ahead
In its first year, the chapter is focused on three key goals: bringing together the electrochemistry community at U of T, hosting lectures and seminars to deepen knowledge, and creating opportunities for students to develop scientific communication and professional skills.
Looking further ahead, the team hopes to build a lasting, collaborative community that advances electrochemistry research and fosters strong connections both within the University and with industry partners in Toronto.
“By providing a supportive and collaborative environment for students and postdoctoral fellows, we hope to enhance collaborations among groups, provide unique learning experiences, and help strengthen electrochemistry and solid state research at U of T,” says the team.
Interested in getting involved?
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To RSVP to the kick-off event, please complete this form (by Thursday April 2nd at 11am).