Catalyst, Issue 2: Origins
At its core, science is a story of beginnings. Where did we come from? How did we get here? Where are we going next? This issue of Catalyst, centered on the theme of “Origins,” invites us to explore those fundamental questions through the lens of scientific inquiry at the University of Notre Dame.
As a computational chemist, much of my research focuses on specific questions like how drug molecules bind to their targets or how salt ions affect the properties of liquid water. But I am also inspired by how the smaller-scale mysteries of science are connected to much larger problems. In the case of my lab, for instance, discoveries can eventually lead to the development of new therapeutics to fight diseases, or toward the design of more efficient, cheaper, and safer water-based batteries. At Notre Dame, our scientists strive to understand many different types of scientific origins, pursuing answers for small- and large-scale questions through both scientific and spiritual inquiry.
In this issue, we feature researchers probing for the origins of life in RNA and searching for Earth-like worlds among our nearby stars. Even our Museum of Biodiversity in Jordan Hall of Science is rich with origins. In our early days, courses in the natural sciences, among the first offered on our fledgling campus, were brought to life by museum specimens.
These and other stories remind us that every scientific endeavor begins with a question. Although our scientists begin with those questions, hope is what fuels their passions. At Notre Dame, scientific discovery is not only about data, but also about serving humanity and building a better future. Hope drives our students, faculty, and alumni to ask not only what is possible. They also ask: What is good and meaningful? What will endure?
By its nature, the world is an uncertain place. But scientific study and the pursuit of knowledge remain a beacon. I invite you to join us in that pursuit as you explore this issue of Catalyst.
Steve Corcelli, Ph.D.
William K. Warren Foundation Dean, College of Science
University of Notre Dame
Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Scientists Recreate Ancient Biochemistry to Probe Life's Origins
It’s a question researchers have chased for decades, within different laboratories and across different fields: How did life begin?
For researcher Saurja DasGupta, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, the quest for discovery is nearly as exciting as the possible results. The aim of his lab isn’t to make new drugs or cure diseases, but it’s to recreate the first flickers of life from non-living matter, to simulate the moment when the laws of physics and chemistry gave rise to biology.
The Search for Understanding
Why is it important to study the origins of the brain?
Notre Dame researchers are finding out
Integrating Faith and Science
Notre Dame Students Lead in Science and Spirituality
Q+A with Lauren Weiss
Assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy
The Pursuit of Discovery
Juanita Pinzón Caicedo unites Latin American topologists in ECOGyT conference
Fostering intellectual discourse and community for Colombian topologists and geometers and their international counterparts
Emily Wedel pursues ecological research across communities and continents
“Plants can’t move when times get tough."
Guided by our common human curiosity and Catholic character, the College of Science prepares you to be tomorrow’s scientific leaders. We inspire you to seek greater understanding of the natural world, to translate knowledge into progress, and to share discoveries that make a difference in society.