Scientia, Volume 8 (2017)

From the Editors The University of Notre Dame’s College of Science maintains a firm commitment to fostering advancements that solve the world’s most difficult and enduring questions. Scientific research is at the forefront of methods to answer these questions. To explore and advance science, the college’s faculty and staff work tirelessly to create an environment that encourages independent thinking, exploration, discovery, and collaboration among undergraduate students. Undergraduate research is an essential component for cultivating these skills, and students across all disciplines in the College of Science tackle challenging problems through undergraduate research. *Scientia* is entirely run by undergraduates. For us, *Scientia* embodies our belief that we as students must work alongside of the college to create such an environment. We strive to promote scientific research among undergraduates through the annual publication of our journal, which we are happy to present to you here. In this issue, you will find research ranging from the effect of habitat on the catchability of largemouth bass to studies on health care access for sickle cell anemia and breast cancer in Uganda and the United States, respectively. We also support scientific discourse through our monthly talk series, “Talk Science,” and you will find a summary of the 2016-2017 seminars within the journal. In addition, we are excited to launch the Charles Edison Fund Fellowship this spring. The fellowship funds two students that, due to financial circumstances, are unable to fully commit themselves to research because of their need to seek employment. The funding lasts for two academic semesters and aims to replace the time students work during the academic year to support their education with time spent conducting research. This fellowship conveys our belief that all students should have the opportunity to fully engage in research. Thanks to the help of the College of Science and generous support of the Charles Edison Fund, we are coming close to realizing our vision of a more equitable research culture here at Notre Dame. In this vein, we encourage undergraduates in all disciplines to get involved in research by diving into their fields of interest. Asking novel questions and developing a sense of curiosity are the beginnings to groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Faculty in the College of Science and across the University are eager to find motivated undergraduate researchers who share their passion. For those who do not know where to start, there are countless opportunities for students to learn about scientific research on campus. Attending seminar series and poster sessions are excellent ways for undergraduates to discover research opportunities. We hope that all students will take the opportunity to explore and participate in undergraduate research. We would like to end by saying thank you to the people that have been foundational to *Scientia*’s efforts. First and foremost, without Professor Dom Chaloner, none of this would be possible. His unwavering support and advice helped us not only to produce this journal, but also ensure that our ideas were put into action. Secondly, we thank Dean Galvin and the entire College of Science’s Dean’s Office, whose encouragement and direction enabled us to continue to grow and improve as an organization. Finally, we would be remiss to not thank our incredible undergraduate staff, the driving force behind this publication. We leave the direction of *Scientia* to Elizabeth McGough and Candice Park for the coming academic year. Elizabeth and Candice became involved as freshmen and have held numerous leadership roles within the journal. We are confident *Scientia* will see continued success and growth. In Notre Dame, Luke Maillie Daniel Pape *Scientia* Editors-in-Chief