Dear Reader,

Welcome to the 13th edition of Headwaters Magazine! We first must express how grateful we are, as always, for the continued support of many organizations and members of the UVM community, including the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, the Student Government Association, our advisor, Josh Brown. This year, we were especially overwhelmed by the amount of interest we received from passionate, creative students, and we count ourselves lucky that many of them have joined our editorial and design teams this fall. We are endlessly grateful that so many people continue to value and be inspired by the work that Headwaters does and the unique voices that contribute to it.

The content featured in this edition of Headwaters is tied together by a common theme: fragility. As our writers examine the delicate wings of a butterfly, explore vulnerable ecosystems in our own national parks and in the forests of Costa Rica, and investigate viruses looming within increasingly unstable glacial ice, a refrain of warning might be heard: the world as we know it is not guaranteed. And yet, even louder, are their calls for perseverance. As farmers learn to foster microbial complexity to sustain soils, we might learn to build resiliency by connecting with each other. Stories of familial love remind us that in our vulnerability, we may find strength in caring for those around us.

And, we must also celebrate that in the face of many looming challenges, our team still finds the resolve to create something so resolutely hopeful. Above all else, we hope that Headwaters can provide respite from this overwhelm. May you find as much encouragement in these pages as we found in bringing them together.

Because, if the creativity, intelligence, and motivation displayed by those who contribute to this publication is any indication of the future… we think we’ll be alright.

Sincerely,

Jake Hogan University of Vermont ‘23 Co-Editor-in-Chief

Teresa Helms University of Vermont ‘24 Co-Editor-in-Chief