Catalyst, the Undergraduate Science Research Journal at Rice, showcases student perspectives on popular science topics and undergraduate research. We’re committed to fostering interdisciplinary interest in scientific writing and dialogue about science at Rice. We invest in our writers to represent our organization, our university, and the power of writing in this context to educate and engage a broad audience.
Catalyst is divided into several sections:
1. Attractions, which focuses on short-form expository writing meant to help the general public engage in scientific discourse.
2. Breakthroughs, which performs interviews with researchers at Rice and the TMC to bring cutting-edge research topics into the public spotlight.
3. Connections, which leads aspiring scientific writers through the peer-reviewed publication process, thus creating full-length journal articles for audiences with scientific backgrounds.
4. Discoveries, which exposes the general public to intriguing scientific topics by publishing brief blog posts on the official Catalyst website. Check out a few highlights from Discoveries, our frequently updated online blog, on our home page!
5. Design, which works together in a team environment to assemble the final publication in an organized and professional format, which will be published both in print and online.
Science needs to be accessible and engaging to captivate and inform a wider American public that is often inundated with misinformation, junk news, and conflicting opinions on key issues. We are passionate about making science accessible and engaging, whether you’re a Ph.D. research scientist or a casual reader hoping to learn a little bit about virtual reality.
Our student staff heavily invests in our writers to provide constructive criticism and share experiences in scientific communication, which fosters an environment in which all students can thrive regardless of their prior writing or research experience. As a member of Catalyst, you will join one or more of our sections to write/edit articles for our annual publication. For more information on joining Rice Catalyst, please stay on the lookout to attend our annual retreat, or reach out to ricecatalyst@gmail.com.
Catalyst, the Undergraduate Science Research Journal at Rice, showcases student perspectives on popular science topics and undergraduate research. We’re committed to fostering interdisciplinary interest in scientific writing and dialogue about science at Rice. We invest in our writers to represent our organization, our university, and the power of writing in this context to educate and engage a broad audience.
Catalyst is divided into several sections:
1. Attractions, which focuses on short-form expository writing meant to help the general public engage in scientific discourse.
2. Breakthroughs, which performs interviews with researchers at Rice and the TMC to bring cutting-edge research topics into the public spotlight.
3. Connections, which leads aspiring scientific writers through the peer-reviewed publication process, thus creating full-length journal articles for audiences with scientific backgrounds.
4. Discoveries, which exposes the general public to intriguing scientific topics by publishing brief blog posts on the official Catalyst website. Check out a few highlights from Discoveries, our frequently updated online blog, on our home page!
5. Design, which works together in a team environment to assemble the final publication in an organized and professional format, which will be published both in print and online.
Science needs to be accessible and engaging to captivate and inform a wider American public that is often inundated with misinformation, junk news, and conflicting opinions on key issues. We are passionate about making science accessible and engaging, whether you’re a Ph.D. research scientist or a casual reader hoping to learn a little bit about virtual reality.
Our student staff heavily invests in our writers to provide constructive criticism and share experiences in scientific communication, which fosters an environment in which all students can thrive regardless of their prior writing or research experience. As a member of Catalyst, you will join one or more of our sections to write/edit articles for our annual publication. For more information on joining Rice Catalyst, please stay on the lookout to attend our annual retreat, or reach out to ricecatalyst@gmail.com.
Lillian He, Michelle Sekili
Sophianne Loh, Catherine Zhou
Attractions - Nimah Haidar
Breakthroughs - Nayounghee Tuetkin
Connections - Sofia Gordeev, Wiley Liou
Discoveries - Taylor Schultz
Hannah Garcia, Rohan Palavali
Elizabeth Lee, Anabella Johnston
Taylor Rogers
Dr. Daniel Wagner
Catalyst is an organization that ultimately seeks to increase scientific literacy through the publication opportunities it offers. Previously, these opportunities were offered only to undergraduates within the Rice University community. In an effort to expand its reach and serve the greater Houston community, Catalyst went beyond the hedges.
Starting in the fall of the 2016 academic year, Catalyst implemented a program called Eureka! in partnership with nearby high school institutions to guide high school students through the process of writing scientific articles similar to those found in the annual Catalyst publication, which is then compiled into a separate publication and distributed at the end of the academic year. By providing this opportunity, Catalyst members hope to not only provide high school students with an exciting glimpse of the scientific sphere of the academic world, but also serve as mentors to younger students in areas such as college applications, college life, and career options.
The inaugural issue of Eureka was published in April 2017 and the most recent issue was published June 2024. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you are interested in working with Eureka!
Prasi Desai, Nikitha Kota