ISSUE 10

EDITOR’S NOTE
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I didn’t come to science communication thinking it would be an act of resistance. I came to it because I loved science and wanted to talk about it with the people around me. But it didn’t take long to realize that, in a world where truth is so often distorted, and where misinformation spreads faster than facts, making science understandable and accessible is not just important. It’s urgent.

We’re in the middle of a troubling shift, where scientific consensus is questioned not on the basis of evidence, but on the basis of political agendas. The distortion of truth doesn’t live in the shadows — it’s front and center, broadcast widely, dressed up as skepticism. In this environment, doing good science isn’t enough. Publishing papers is not enough. If our discoveries never leave the walls of academia, if our language stays coded and exclusive, then we’ve left the public — and the truth — vulnerable. At Grey Matters, our work has always been rooted in the idea that science is for everyone. Because we believe that understanding science shouldn’t require a PhD or fluency in jargon. It should just require curiosity. Grey Matters Journal exists to serve as a bridge between science and society. Our responsibility is not just to inform, but to empower, so that facts remain stronger than fear, and discovery remains a force for good.

Over my time with Grey Matters, I’ve come to appreciate just how much labor goes into building the bridge. It means writing with clarity, but also with empathy, humor, and humility. It means constantly asking ourselves: who’s being left out of this conversation, and how can we bring them in? There have been moments when this work felt overwhelming. But what’s kept us going, what keeps me going, is this stubborn optimism that if we make science more transparent, more human, and more joyful, people will show up for it.

To our readers: thank you for continuing to show up with curiosity, issue after issue. In this tenth edition of Grey Matters Journal at Vassar College, we’re excited to share eleven thoughtfully crafted articles exploring the complexities of the brain from a wide range of perspectives. We’re also thrilled to mark this milestone issue with something special. For the first time, we’ve invited some of our esteemed faculty members to share their own reflections on what drew them to neuroscience, what accessibility in science means to them, and what questions keep them curious in their labs. Their voices add depth to this issue and remind us that science is, at its core, a human pursuit.

As I step down from my role, I’m filled with gratitude. For the team that made this journal a living, breathing thing. For the late-night edits, the brainstorming sessions that turned into breakthroughs, and the laughter we somehow always found in the margins. Most of all, I’m grateful for the collective courage it takes to challenge the way things have always been done. Although this goodbye is bittersweet, I am confident in the leadership and vision of Evelynn Bagade, who will be stepping into the role of Editor-in-Chief. Evelynn’s creativity and commitment to making science more accessible have already strengthened this journal in countless ways, and I know she’ll continue to lead with the same intention and heart that make this work matter. Though my time as Editor-in-Chief is ending, our mission will stay with me. It’s a cause I will carry forward, as we all must, in the face of mounting challenges to the integrity of scientific discourse.

At the end of the day, we’re not just publishing science. We’re creating space for dialogue, for dissent, for discovery. And that feels like something worth fighting for.

Shawn Babitsky

Editor-in-Chief