Richmond student strives to unite science majors through campus academic journal

Alex Long, Richmond College junior, wants to unite Gottwald students across fields of study, and he thinks a campus academic journal is the solution. 

Titled "Osmosis Magazine," the publication would target science majors, though Long hopes it would increase awareness of science and healthcare issues in students of all majors, Long said. 

Largely based on the University of Pennsylvania’s Synapse magazine, this publication will be student-led, student-managed and faculty-advised, Long said. Students will spend a month or two researching any topic related to science with a healthcare focus, then write an academic review of the literature to be reviewed by faculty advisers.

“Being able to think that I helped in some way with forwarding scientific dialogue at Richmond is really exciting and something I would be super proud of,” Long said. He noted that one of the most difficult challenges for scientists is to be able to read complex literature and convert it into standard English that any person can understand.

Long said he liked the idea that all students studying science – from physics to biochemistry – would get the chance to collaborate and be connected under one publication, similar to the Forum and the Messenger.

Long is no stranger to creating his own publications. He was the editor-in-chief of his high school literary magazine, which he also started. “Even though it was just a high school magazine, once I had that finished product in my hand, I’d never felt such a sense of accomplishment,” he said.

The idea for Osmosis Magazine came to Long during winter break, and he had contacted fellow biology major Nicole D’Ambrosio, a proactive student who he knew had many connections to other Gottwald students. They started generating ideas together, and the next day Long emailed Anthony Crenshaw, the associate director of student organizations.

Junior Annie Ryan is one of 32 students who showed interest in being part of the leadership of Osmosis Magazine at the information session held March 15. “I like that you get to learn so much about one subject that you’re interested in, then put it in your own words and have something that’s your own,” Ryan said.

When asked what topics he would be interested in writing about, Long said, “I’ve been really interested in under-researched mental health diseases – things that don’t get a lot of funding from the government.” He wants to increase awareness and show that these diseases are important issues that deserve more recognition, he said.

Long and D’Ambrosio will present their ideas to a panel of faculty and staff on March 28 in an effort to prove that this magazine will be beneficial to Richmond’s campus in some capacity. If Osmosis Magazine is approved, Long said he hoped to have one issue published per semester, with the first issue to be released at the end of the coming fall semester.

“Anyone that gets involved with the magazine right now is hopefully going to be a part of a legacy at Richmond,” Long said. “If we can make something that sticks, and I come back for my 10-year reunion and see a 20^th edition of Osmosis Magazine, that would be the most incredible thing.”

Contact reporter Jessie Bursma at jessica.bursma@richmond.edu