A bit of history
Cycloid Fathom dates back to about 1985 as an explicitly defined and labeled set of activities. But that recognition was preceded for many years by those professional activities that now comprise our portfolio. This is evident by our having included on our Completed Projects page some that predate the formal existence of CFTP and its companion Gallery, which together comprise Cycloid Fathom Group.
Included in those professional activities have been contributions of essays and editorial guidance to publications tied to our chairman’s professional affiliations. A few are mentioned below to convey their flavor and to hint at how prospective clients of CFTP may today derive creative benefit by engaging CFTP.
As the managing volunteer editor for the Bulletin of the Materials Research Society, we initiated theme-based issues for the first time, we instituted a serious editorial page, Material Matters, and a more tongue-in-cheek back page in alternate issues called Posterminaries. The typical and characteristically playful commentary is evident from the smattering of selected Posterminaries titles that can be found here.
A couple of essays of particular note are:
“The Innovation Enigma” in Materials Chemistry and Physics, Volume 50, Issue 2, September 1997, pp 120-123. [ISSN: 0254-0584]
“Personal Observations on Interdisciplinarity” in The Interdisciplinary Imperative: Interactive Research and Education, Still an Elusive Goal in Academia, Rustum Roy, Ed. (Writers Club Press, 2000) p. 143. [ISBN 0-595-01179-9; ISBN 978-1-475-91681-2]
Both of the above deal with boundaries, whether horizontal between scientific disciplines or vertical between basic research, applied research, development, and market insertion for new high-tech products. CFTP has been and continues to be a resource for those who encounter and aspire to work between and across those divides.
Additional brief essays may be found at https://cycloid.substack.com .