About The Catalyst

Catalyst (noun): An agent that sparks significant change

Our Mission

The Catalyst is a Washington, D.C.–based student-run magazine dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We give a platform to the next generation of researchers, innovators, and critical thinkers — telling the stories that move ideas from the lab into the public conversation.

Student-Led D.C. Based STEM Focused

What We Publish

From long-form features on emerging research to sharp editorials on science policy, we cover the ideas and people shaping the future of STEM. Our work highlights breakthroughs, challenges assumptions, and brings the research world closer to a general audience.

Profiles Features Interviews Editorials

Our Values

Every piece we publish is held to the same standard: factual accuracy, intellectual honesty, and clear writing. We verify claims against primary sources, welcome corrections openly, and never sacrifice rigor for readability.

Accuracy Integrity Excellence

Our Story

From a simple idea to a thriving platform

The Catalyst began as a conversation between a small group of students who felt that STEM research — happening all around them in one of the most scientifically active cities in the country — wasn't reaching the people who should care most about it. Washington, D.C. is home to world-class universities, federal research agencies, and a policy landscape where science matters. We wanted a publication that reflected that.

We started small — a handful of writers, no budget, and a lot of shared Google Docs. Over time, contributors from across the D.C. area joined us: students from GW, Georgetown, Howard, Johns Hopkins, and beyond, each bringing a different lens to the same goal. The publication grew organically, shaped more by the people in it than by any master plan.

Today, The Catalyst is a cross-institutional student magazine with a growing readership and a clear editorial identity. We're still student-run, still independent, and still driven by the same conviction that good science writing can change how people think. We're glad you're here.

Our Commitment

Standards we uphold in every piece we publish

Editorial Rigor

Every article is fact-checked against primary sources before it reaches our readers. Our editors review for accuracy, clarity, and fairness — and we issue corrections promptly when we get something wrong.

Accessible Writing

We write for curious readers, not specialists. Our goal is to make complex research understandable without dumbing it down — respecting both the science and the audience.

Independence

The Catalyst is editorially independent. Our coverage is guided by journalistic judgment, not institutional affiliation or outside influence.

Our Team

Meet the Team

Students from across the D.C. area united by a commitment to rigorous, accessible science journalism

15 Team Members
5 Universities
Join Our Team