About Caltech Magazine
For 80 years, E&S magazine played an important role at Caltech, serving not only as a vehicle for telling the Institute’s story but becoming an integral part of that story itself. It began in June 1937 as a means for disseminating news to and about Caltech alumni, then morphed a few years later into Engineering and Science Monthly “to reflect all current development in the fields of engineering and science.” By the time the magazine carried the E&S logo for the first time in 1967, its focus had broadened to include both alumni and general Institute research. Over the years, generations of Caltech graduates have come to rely on E&S as one of the primary ways to stay connected with their alma mater.
At times in its history, E&S harkened back to its roots of eight decades ago, serving primarily as an alumni magazine. At other times, it more closely resembled a research publication, focused on the transformative work being undertaken by Institute faculty. We feel the time has come for the next step in its evolution: to become a truly Caltech magazine, one that both embodies the entire Institute and serves all its stakeholders.
The magazine you are now reading is that reimagined product, the result of months of audience research, discussions with a broad variety of the magazine’s readers, and conceptual design work. This process made a few things quite clear:
- While certain audiences, such as alumni, regularly read E&S, there is a significant opportunity to reach others, such as current and prospective students, parents, and visitors to our campus.
- There is great enthusiasm on the part of both existing and prospective readers for a magazine with a stronger online component.
- Readers have a desire for a more robust print publication, one in line with magazines produced by peer institutions.
We hope Caltech magazine serves these needs and many more. The print issues have been reduced from four to three per year (with two issues in 2017), allowing for more investment in both the print version as well as a stronger online presence. In each issue, readers will find a wider variety of stories, targeted toward the many different audiences such a magazine serves. Complementary material, including videos, will be available throughout the year on the magazine’s website, magazine.caltech.edu.
With the thought that “the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement,” we look forward to your thoughts and comments on how we can make Caltech magazine more useful and compelling for you; you can reach us at magazine@caltech.edu.
We hope you enjoy this first issue of Caltech magazine.