From the Editors...

More Than Just a Finished Product

The staff members of The Catalyst are often heard saying that their journal is the only one of its kind at Brown.  While this may be true, The Catalyst shares many things in common with other student groups, in particular, a love of learning, thinking, and talking about ideas and current issues.  It is obvious from the range of activities and events on campus that students are passionately involved in what they do.  But by looking more closely at this passion and enthusiasm, one can notice friendships being made and strengthened, ideas shared, and conversations had in the process of collaborating.

It’s often difficult to reflect in the middle of activity, and it isn’t often that Catalyst staff members pause to consider the process of production and what goes on during the creation of our journal.  There is much to be said about the ‘finished product,’ but how do we get there?  In late night meetings and weekend design sessions, we pore over the content of each article, the attractiveness of each layout design, and the intricacies of each art piece.  We distribute our issue in the bustling hallways of the post office and at the first-year activities fair, to professors and students and staff.  There are lists, schedules, and purchase orders; there are printers to be dealt with and deans to talk to.  Posters, tableslips, emails, newspaper ads, followed by more emails and more tableslips.  We eat Kabob & Curry delicacies and Meeting Street cookies.

All of these activities provide us with much more than just a finished product.  They provide us with a chance for good conversation, collaboration, and space for creativity.  It is during these meetings and impromptu gatherings that we have the opportunity to ponder ideas and interact with one other.  And this is just as true for The Catalyst as it is for every student group on campus.

In creating this issue, we have worked hard to continue our mission of integrating the sciences and the humanities.  We believe that thinking with an interdisciplinary perspective is as crucial as ever.  Thanks go to all who contributed their time and energy to help create our final copy.  Please enjoy this issue, articles and all.

Sincerely,

Nick Mitchell & Zoe Hunton