A Letter From Your Editor-In-Chief
whoever it is that you choose to be, tell your story.
WRITTEN BY BRIANNA MATTIS
Photographed by taylor shea carroll
ILLUSTRATED BY KAITLAN HOWARD
The first thing that we carry is our story.
Long before the first discovery was made and the field of science began to take shape, the Earth and its wonders told their story. Carbon dioxide danced in the atmosphere. Life begged to erupt. Organisms that now only exist in textbooks once inhabited environments suited largely for their own phenotypic landscape. But still, through all of that, their existence made it into this century and into the minds of, well, all of you.
In vivo, a catalyst is a substance used to increase the rate of a chemical reaction. The process itself nods to something I think we all need more of–support. Here at Catalyst Magazine, we pride ourselves in sharing resources that help make your time in the College of Natural Sciences go by with ease— and we don’t stop there! While guides in preparation for professional careers and deep dives are great (and necessary), we are also interested in you.
Why are you here? Where have you been? Where are you going?
These are the observations that truly make science—of all hues and fields—fun and alluring! Now more than ever, we want to hear about your journey in the largest college at the University of Texas at Austin! Whether you are a student, faculty, Texas Ex, administrator, Texas Science Enthusiast, or a Longhorn from another diverse background, your voice, research, mental health, and passions are important to us.
In spring 2023, the Catalyst staff determined that it was necessary to make a significant change in the structure of our publication. At its end, the external branch of Catalyst* was dissolved thus resulting in the relinquishing of Catalyst’s external facing platforms to the hands of the Natural Sciences Council’s Catalyst Committee**. Though I feel the ripples that this shift has caused, I do not, and will never, see it as a roadblock to our mission.
As I prepare to lead this new era of Catalyst, I am keenly aware of a few things: firstly, this committee was birthed at the hands of students, like myself, from NSC, and is strongly tied to our greater mission of serving natural sciences students; secondly, our purpose as a publication remains rooted in spurring conversation, amplifying stories within the CNS community, and sharing resources; and thirdly, there is nothing more important than the discovery of self amidst the treasure of life on this planet. We are the grandest of all hypotheses that are still being explored.
So, you may be wondering what it is that you should expect from us this year. Instead of speaking in expectations, I present to you our current reality and unwavering identity…Behind this URL is a mighty force of undergraduate staff writers, editors, and illustrators who are dedicated to evolving our content and diversifying the kinds of media we know that you all deserve! What’s my foresight? Be prepared for dialogue. Foundational changes of any kind start with vulnerable conversations and a willingness to evolve. We hope to facilitate and inform all of you of all changes as they come.
You also may be wondering how you can get involved with this publication if you’re not in the Natural Sciences Council. The answer is simple: just say hi! I will not be creating a formal application process for any collaborations with this magazine. Additionally, we will not be setting limitations on the STEM or STEAM*** topics we discuss, nor will we limit ourselves to strictly collaborating with people in the CNS community (I’m looking at you, intersectionality! Come create with us–we don’t bite).
We appreciate any suggestions, concerns, or questions you may have about this new direction. Please feel free to contact me at nsc.catalyst.chair@gmail.com and submit any and all pitches or enquiries to our contact form. We are still working on creating new platforms, but in the meantime, please follow our Instagram (or as I like to call it: The CATstagram) at @utcatalyst
I am looking forward to connecting with each of you this year. My desire is that Catalyst will evolve with the minds of this beautiful community we call home!
In all things, whether it be publication, research, curation, or creation, remember that there is no one else like you, and regardless of how many times your cells divide, there will be no one else who has been where you are, or where you have been.
Whoever it is that you choose to be, tell your story.
All my best,
BRIANNA K. MATTIS,
Editor-in-Chief
Catalyst Chair
2023-2024
* External Catalyst: External Catalyst was a previous branch of the publication that was comprised of CNS students who were not a part of the Natural Sciences Council but applied to be a part of the magazine staff. These students handled the PR and other forms of illustrative content within Catalyst. Though it has now been dissolved, the responsibilities of this branch will now fall to the EIC and be sustained by collaborations with the publication without the need for any form of application.
** Internal Catalyst/Catalyst Committee: a committee within the Natural Sciences Council that staffs and oversees all content within the magazine. In order to join the staff at Catalyst, application to the Natural Sciences Council is required.
*** STEAM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. As a publication, we are directly powered by the practice of using the arts as a tool for expression/education in the world of science.