Thank you for reading the third issue of Eureka! Eureka was initially introduced in 2016 as a collaboration between Catalyst, Rice’s undergraduate research journal, and Houston area high schools to promote scientific literacy. Due to the events of COVID-19, spring 2018 was our last issue. However, this year, we were able to restart the program in partnership with Carnegie Vanguard High School and Bellaire High School. At Carnegie Vanguard, we worked with AP research students to provide mentorship throughout their yearlong projects. At Bellaire, we helped students synthesize literature reviews on their topic of choice. Since January, our students have worked hard to research, write, and design their articles while also preparing a poster to present at the Eureka Poster Symposium. This year’s issue covers a wide range of topics that represent the diverse interests of our students, from medicine to electrical engineering. Throughout the semester, these students have learned how to read scientific papers, write professionally, and present their findings to a general audience. In the future, we know these students will accomplish great things. We hope that the skills they’ve learned here can help them with these goals. 

In the fall of 2016, Eureka began as a collaboration between Catalyst, Rice’s undergraduate science research journal, and the Energy Institute High School. Catalyst has always had two main goals: creating exceptional and accessible science communication, and providing educational opportunities for those who want to develop their writing and communication skills. For Catalyst, partnering with Energy Institute AP Environmental Science students was an obvious next step in expanding our outreach efforts. This issue explores a variety of subjects ranging from artificial intelligence to the cognitive effects of hunger. These articles cover not only the scientific research being carried out, but also how it intersects with social issues: the most important part of research is how its results ultimately impact our lives. By learning how to communicate the necessary details but also the broader implications of scientific research, the writers of Eureka developed the skills necessary to promote scientific literacy in their communities.

In the fall of 2016, Eureka began as a collaboration between Catalyst, Rice’s undergraduate science research journal, and the Energy Institute High School. Catalyst has always had two main goals: creating exceptional and accessible science communication, and providing educational opportunities for those who want to develop their writing and communication skills. For Catalyst, partnering with Energy Institute AP Environmental Science students was an obvious next step in expanding our outreach efforts. This issue explores a variety of subjects ranging from artificial intelligence to the cognitive effects of hunger. These articles cover not only the scientific research being carried out, but also how it intersects with social issues: the most important part of research is how its results ultimately impact our lives. By learning how to communicate the necessary details but also the broader implications of scientific research, the writers of Eureka developed the skills necessary to promote scientific literacy in their communities.