August saw the rollout of a new program at the Department of Chemistry: Fuel and Flourish. An initiative that brings graduate students together for a healthy breakfast on all three U of T campuses, F&F launched in August 2025. Since then, on the first Thursday of every month, graduate students are invited by ChemClub and the Graduate Office to gather for a light breakfast, good conversation, and a chance to connect with peers.
"Whether you’re fueling up for a big day or just craving a moment of calm, we’ve got you covered," read the initial F&F invitation, sent to students in July.
"We established the Fuel and Flourish program as a way to bring the graduate community together, at the start of the day, to offer a healthy beginning," said Department of Chemistry Chair Mark Lautens, "and to further build department spirit."
He added, "We also wanted (in a very small way) to partially address the challenges with food security that students face with the high costs of graduate life."
Though this program is still its early days, organizers at the Graduate Office are collecting student-submitted recipes, with an eye to possibly featuring those meals at future breakfast sessions. Sharing a meal is a fundamental way to bring people together and forge ties. Each monthly gathering thus offers a fresh chance to strengthen ties between students, encourage wellness, and create important moments of connection.