In undergraduate education, the sciences and humanities are treated as disparate fields, and we are led to focus on the former aspects of science far more than the latter. In reality, scientists, engineers, and researchers all work towards improving human lives and often need to tap into the vast resources of human creativity and empathy to do so.
Art and creative writing allow us to consider these implications with an expressive freedom not afforded by lectures and laboratories. We believe that exploration of the intersection of sciences and humanities is just as crucial to scientific knowledge as concrete theories and research. We intend for Atrium to be a space that humanizes the sciences through the sharing of creative student reflections on these subjects. As such, if you’re a STEM student, we warmly welcome you to submit work that reflects on the human aspects of your career aspirations and extracurricular experience. On the other hand, our magazine is open to all students with a story to share, regardless of major and career plans.
Editing Department
Helina Li
Helina is intending to double major in English and CS. She loves all things literature and badminton. Her life goal is to write novels.
Gabriella Smith
Gaby intends to double major in molecular cell biology and psychology. She has a soft spot for A Series of Unfortunate Events (her favorite childhood book series) and likes her eggs cooked over easy.
Aashi Parikh
Aashi is a second year English and Linguistics double major with a passion for poetry and the intersection of STEM and the humanities (hence, Atrium!). She also loves Taylor Swift, nature walks, and visiting cool coffee shops.
Abinayaa Murugupandiyan
Abinayaa (she/her) is majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. In her free time, she loves reading, especially books that make her cry. Her favorite dessert is gulab jamun, and she wants to go skydiving one day.
Alyson Yee
Alyson is a third year MCB major. She loves making stuffed animals.
Carmen Berry
Carmen has a deep love for science and the arts. As an MEB major, they specialize in using science to inform policies that make life better for people and the planet. As an artist, they draw silly little pictures and make sculptures out of trash. Both passions are equally valid.
Nesyah Galatin
Nesyah is a junior studying bioengineering & entrepreneurship. She likes to create interdisciplinary connections across subjects and is passionate about design innovation. Her hobbies include reading & art.
Sania Choudhary
Sania is majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology, and considering a double with English. She loves reading (especially on rainy days) and anything cute/aesthetic. Her favorite book is The Night Circus.
Sarah Adler
Sarah is intending on majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology, on a pre-med track. She loves reading, playing violin and viola, watching fantasy and sci-fi shows, playing with her corgi, and writing.
Saniya Pendharkar
Saniya is a second year student studying economics from Dallas, Texas. Aside from poetry, she enjoys movies and music.
Soumya Rai
Soumya is a sophomore majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and minoring in music. Aside from painting, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and going to concerts.
Writing Department
Tiffany Yu
Tiffany is an MCB major who enjoys sketching on her math notes in her free time. She lives on Spotify and plans to tackle every roller coaster at Magic Mountain one day.
Niveditha Sukesh
Niveditha (she/her) intends to major in MCB and Public Health. She loves reading all genres and binge-watching TV shows on the weekends. Her favorite drink is chai!
Crystal Chavez-Barragan
Crystal is a second year pursing majors in English and Political Science. She loves all things sci-fi and holds a special place in her heart for Star Wars. In her free time, she loves to play video games and read web novels.
Kate Trout
Kate is majoring in Anthropology with a minor in History. She enjoys reading historical fiction and fantasy books, and likes to write poetry in her spare time. She has a great interest in the intersection of nature, culture, and the human experience.
Kristen Li
Kristen is pursuing a major in statistics. She enjoys dancing, drawing, reading, and watching penguin videos. Her favorite foods are cherry tomatoes and blackberries.
Mel Dueñas
Mel is a Comparative Literature major. As a writer, she is passionate about journaling, poetry, and the [un]dying art of mailing letters. She also enjoys hiking, rollerskating, and going to the ocean.
Divya Venkataraman
Divya is a Molecular and Cell Biology major intending on double majoring in Business Administration. She enjoys figure skating, reading mystery novels, reading tarot cards, writing (obviously), and playing with pottery!
Morgane Fiorentini
Morgane is currently undecided in L&S. She loves to cook, bake, read, write, hike, stargaze, travel, spend time with friends and family, and find new artistic outlets (currently pottery!).
Art Department
Shaila Sendan
Shaila is majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology (emphasis in Biochemistry). Outside of school she enjoys reading, hiking and keeping aquariums.
Danielle Gomez
Danielle is a second year majoring in Integrative Biology. She has a passion for art and science and loves to play basketball, run along the beach, and play piano.
Kevin Wolf
Kevin is a second year majoring in English and minoring in an undecided STEM field. When he’s not shopping for things he’ll never buy, he loves listening to music, driving, and watching depressing anime movies.
Celeste Edell
Celeste is double majoring in Ecosystem Management & Forestry and Conservation & Resource Studies. An artist from Pasadena, you can always find her either diving into classic sci-fi books, rock piano, or exploring California’s rivers and redwoods.
Grace Garcia
Grace is currently pursuing an architecture degree under the College of Environmental Design. She adores reading, road trips, spontaneous adventures, movie nights, and taking part in anything creative! 
Layout Department
Dream Lopez
Dream is majoring in Data Science and Public Health. She loves quiet things, like reading and crocheting. And loud things, like concerts and screaming on a mountain.
Johanna Liu
Johanna is a sophomore studying Environmental Sciences. She is desperately trying to find time in between school work and midterms to maintain her feeble status as a self proclaimed writer and artist.
Charlize Lee
Charlize is a first year student, intending to major in English. She loves to read, write, and sleep. And during all of those activities, you can most certainly catch her listening to music at the same time!
Celia Ruiz
Celia is a sophomore, majoring in Society & Environment. They are interested in all things magical realism, like to write lots of poetry and are obsessed with adding commas everywhere.
Events Department
Caroline Hasler
Caroline Hasler studies Earth and Planetary Science. Aside from hiking and hitting rocks with a really big hammer, she enjoys writing, cartooning, and browsing Berkeley’s record stores.
Leslie Lopez
Leslie is an intended Astrophysics major curious to better understand the world around her. As a first year student, she expresses her struggles navigating the STEM field through poetry and writing.
Contact
Send your questions and comments to atrium.berkeley@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!
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