Welcome to Macrocosm! This is the 2021 edition of the virtual, student-run UCSC COSMOS newspaper. This website is updated weekly with the latest articles that provide insight into the COSMOS community and its numerous programs that were held throughout the 2021 session.
Inaugural Editorial
The pandemic has created a new COSMOS. When we were ordered to work from home on March 16, 2020, we never expected the restriction would last more than a year, and were even in the discussion of seeing things back to normalcy in a month or so and having COSMOS in the summer. Obviously, this did not work out the way we desired, and eventually we had to reach the difficult conclusion of suspending COSMOS 2020. Then, an immediate question arose, what about COSMOS 2021? One natural option was to wait out the storm. Looking back, I am pleased that we did not sit passively by hoping the virus would vanish. If the world has changed, I would like COSMOS to embrace the challenge. In the past 20+ years, thousands of students chose to step outside of their comfort zone and immerse themselves into an intense four-week summer school at UCSC COSMOS with an academic syllabus far beyond a typical high school curriculum. I have no doubt that this year’s cohort will carry on the tradition, despite a different format. Indeed, this is the first ever virtual COSMOS in the 20+ years of program history. It is a brand-new experiment for every one of us. As you are planning on pursuing a STEM career, you will soon find out that “experiment” is in the genes of a scientist. After all, “no problem, no job”. As scientists, we have a job because we are tasked with identifying issues that are of scientific merits and better yet, finding solutions to the issues. Toward this goal, there is no shortcut, and there are a number of experiments along the way. You started your journey long ago. COSMOS is just a refueling stop. Our faculty and staff are ready to help. Complete your experiment here and move on to great success in your life and career!