|
A
Newsletter for Bryn Mawr’s "Invisible
College"
Robert
Boyle, the eminent 17th-century chemist and natural
philosopher, is credited with the earliest use
of the phrase "invisible college." Boyle
used this term in reference to his scientist colleagues
in Oxford and London, who met informally to discuss
their research and later joined him in founding
the Royal Society in 1660.
The
invisible college has since come to denote for
all scientists their extensive network of colleagues,
associates and research collaborators around the
world. It is through this informal, interpersonal
network that scientists stay current with breaking
research developments, share new and improved
lab methods, learn about upcoming conferences
and grant opportunities, exchange preprints and
reprints of research papers, and generally keep
abreast of news about their colleagues and profession.
With
this inaugural issue of Bryn Mawr S&T,
we launch a newsletter dedicated to Bryn Mawr’s
own invisible college of science and technology
professionals worldwide. Its goal is to keep you
informed of the diverse activities of the Bryn
Mawr community in basic and applied research,
teaching, management, funding and policy making.
Through
Bryn Mawr S&T we hope to foster and
deepen the sense of community among our invisible
college. The newsletter is our way of keeping
you current with what is happening at Bryn Mawr
and among our alumnae engaged in science and technology.
We invite and encourage you to make the newsletter
your way of keeping in touch with your colleagues
and friends, and letting the community know what
is happening in your professional life.
We
welcome your participation in making Bryn Mawr
S&T an engaging and effective publication
about our shared interests, activities and accomplishments.
Let us know what you think of the articles in
this inaugural issue, and the stories that you
would like to see published in future. As the
newsletter matures, we look forward to hearing
from you via letters to the editor as well as
guest commentaries and opinion pieces on science
and technology issues important to our community.
Of
course, we are especially interested in hearing
about your professional activities and research
interests. The focus of Bryn Mawr S&T
is really on you and your colleagues within our
invisible college. The news and information you
send us will be shared with the Bryn Mawr community
via an online edition of Bryn Mawr S&T,
which will be available on the College's Web site
later this year. Please keep us all informed by
sending your personal and professional updates
to the editor of Bryn Mawr S&T at the
addresses provided on the cover.
Nancy
J. Vickers
President, Bryn Mawr College
|
