From the Director of Research:

I love research.

I was raised in a Western society, focused on the education. Excelling in their singular view of intelligence as reading and writing. I can read about double-blind studies and dissect parameters, looking for uncontrolled and unidentified variables.

But my home is the intersection of East and West. Oral tradition. With the systematic subtleties entrenched in writing...

I love circling an idea, and leaving clues for the reader. I want my reader to do the work of thinking. In such a way they are active participant in the storytelling--they co-create meaning. In curating an understanding based on their own background, the text is richer. 

Alive! 

Timelessly a source of inspiration.

With my Irish Arabic roots, this Atelier was born. 

Foundational

How does peer-reviewed publication work? 

A researcher conducts a study.

If that study fails to prove its thesis, it rarely gets published. 

I believe this is the first major failing of current Western research institutions. Understanding what does not work, or identifying where no causal link can be demonstrated, is vital for expanding human knowledge. The "publish or perish" culture of higher education means researchers cannot afford to "fail," stifling the boundaries of cutting-edge discovery.

The second issue is the economy of peer review. To submit an article to a reputable journal, a researcher might pay anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 USD—with elite journals charging upwards of $12,000. Once accepted, that research is locked behind a hefty paywall. In this cycle, knowledge is siloed rather than disseminated quickly and effectively.

Thirdly is the style. Research articles are devoid of story-telling. We believe in supporting the voice of narratives and weaving in research, philosophy, and axiom to help maintain the provenance of knowledge.

I do not claim to have the ultimate answer, but this Atelier is our attempt to disrupt that cycle. We are here to support independent thought and publish think-tank work that honors both the brilliant successes and the illuminating failures.