NOTE FROM THE EDITORS: The Who, When, and Why
CLIMATE: The prevailing influence or environmental conditions characterizing a group or period
There are many ways to talk about CLIMATE. The imminent crisis that surrounds rising temperatures on Earth is not divorced from the political, economic, moral and culural dilemmas that our society is currently struggling with. Indeed, to solve one we must actively grapple with the others.
This, however, is no easy task as it requires honest and rigorous discourse between disciplines that, although allied, often function independently without meaningful cross-talk. Just as composers need performers, so, too, do scientists rely on policy makers to bring scientific innovation out of laboratories and classrooms into contemporary society.
To solve our probelms, society needs innovative solutions — ones that grow out of multi-discplinary collaboration rather than unilateral thought. Economists and historians, for instance, have just as much to say about CLIMATE change as the chemical and environmenal engineers do. Yet, academic communities remain largely insular. This is a disservice to us all.
DISTILLED is a forum that aims to faciliate meaningful dialogue between science
and its intersection with policy and the humanities. Our publication is not a scientific journal or a popular science magazine. Instead, it combines the best elements of both: rigorous evidence-based argumentation and palatable science.
This 2019 edition is centered around CLIMATE, broadly interpreted. Authors have chosen to discuss a variety of issues. Some focus acutely on issues relating to CLIMATE change and conservation. Others discuss issues pertaining to our current political CLIMATE, such as gun violence and voter accessibility. Finally, medical innovation and access to treatment is also explored by authors as an important feature of our cultural and economic landscape.
As the Managing Editor (ME) and Editor-In-Chielf (EIC) of this year’s issue, we were inspired by the novelty and thoughtfullness of our authors and the diligence of our editoral team. With the help of their editors, each author identifies a unique current issue and articulates a clear proposal for a solution. While these are , by no means, the only viable solutions to any of these given problems, they certainly push us to think more deeply about how we can faciliatate change.
We thank you for reading DISTILLED — it is our privelege to share our work with you. We hope that you find this issue of DISTILLED as captivating and thought-provoking as we do.
Fields of learning are surrounded ultimately only by illusory boundaries — like the “rooms” in a hall of mirrors. It is when the illusion is penetrated that progress takes place … Likewise science cannot be regarded as a thing apart, to be studied, admired or ignored. It is a vital part of our culture, our culture is part of it, it permeates our thinking, and its continued separateness from what is fondly called “the humanities” is a preposterous practical joke on all thinking men.
—William S. Beck