From the Editor

Conveniences and Consequences

Plastic is everywhere, yet we hardly give it a second thought — until it hits home. After a rear-end collision in December, I saw my Subaru’s crumpled plastic bumper and realized just how much impact it absorbed, keeping me and my son safe. From the laptop I use for work, to the smoke detector in my home, to the container that keeps my medicine secure, plastic makes life easier and safer.

That said, I’m also mindful of the environmental challenges plastic brings, especially single-use plastic and its lasting effects. This issue dives into that dilemma. In “The Plastic Paradox”, Assistant Editor Matt Jones highlights how Bucknell faculty and students are exploring more sustainable plastics. He also spotlights Bucknell alumni rethinking how we use plastic.

As part of Bucknell’s commitment to sustainability and our mission to enhance the reader experience, we’re launching a new digital partnership. Beginning with the summer issue, we’ll be working with eMagazines — a platform used by Sports Illustrated, Time and Fortune — to offer a more engaging digital edition. This will provide an improved reading experience, including a new audio feature that will allow you to listen to stories.

Additionally, we will have a robust online archive to make past issues more accessible, and Class Notes will now be available online for easy desktop viewing.

We are excited about this change and will share more details in the summer issue.

Thank you for being part of our Bucknell Magazine readership as we continue finding new ways to share stories that inform and inspire.

Katie Neitz
Editor / k.neitz@bucknell.edu

plastic mini model of Bucknell courtyard on working table with tools and light surrounding it
Photo: David Gilliver

Behind the Scenes

For this issue’s cover, photographer David Gilliver aimed to convey the ever-growing presence of discarded plastic in our daily lives. Using HO gauge model railroad props, he reimagined Malesardi Quadrangle, creating a striking contrast between nature and plastic waste. The result? A miniature scene with a big message. Check out our digital edition for a short time-lapse video of Gilliver’s intricate setup coming to life.

Our cover story, “The Plastic Paradox”, features the work of two Bucknellians.

Former environmental correspondent and Boston Globe book critic Robert Braile ’77 writes about plastic’s journey from groundbreaking innovation to global environmental challenge.

Meanwhile, Ashley M. Freeby ’15 brings the story to life. This issue marks Freeby’s debut as a designer for Bucknell Magazine. Since her Bucknell days, she’s earned an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and now serves as the communications director and head designer at the Ox-Bow School of Art & Artists’ Residency in Saugatuck, Mich.

Back to Full Issue
Table of Contents