Terms of Service

The terms that govern your use of our website and content.

Effective: April 18, 2026 Last updated: April 18, 2026

Please read these Terms of Service carefully before using catalyst-magazine.com (the "Site") or any services offered by The Catalyst Magazine. By accessing or using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Site.

Section 01

Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") form a legally binding agreement between you and The Catalyst Magazine ("The Catalyst," "we," "us," or "our"). By visiting or using any part of the Site — including reading articles, subscribing to our newsletter, submitting content, or creating a contributor account — you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

If you are under 13 years of age, you may not use the Site. If you are between 13 and 18, you may only use the Site with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Section 02

Who We Are

The Catalyst Magazine is a student-run, independent publication based in Washington, D.C., focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We are not affiliated with any university, government agency, or commercial entity. Our content is produced by student contributors and is intended for general informational and educational purposes.

Section 03

Use of the Site

You may use the Site for lawful, personal, non-commercial purposes. You agree not to:

  • Copy, reproduce, distribute, or republish any content without our written permission.
  • Scrape, crawl, or use automated tools to extract data from the Site.
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Site or its systems.
  • Use the Site to transmit spam, malware, or any harmful content.
  • Impersonate The Catalyst, its staff, or any other person or entity.
  • Interfere with or disrupt the Site's infrastructure or security features.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access for anyone who violates these Terms, at our sole discretion and without notice.

Section 04

Our Content

All articles, editorials, photographs, graphics, and other materials published on the Site ("Content") are the intellectual property of The Catalyst Magazine or their respective authors, unless otherwise noted. Content is protected by copyright law.

What you may do

  • Read, share links to, and cite our articles for personal or educational purposes, with attribution.
  • Quote brief excerpts (up to 150 words) in academic or journalistic work, with a clear citation and link back to the original.

What you may not do

  • Republish full articles on any other website, platform, or publication without prior written consent.
  • Use our content for commercial purposes without a license.
  • Remove or alter any copyright or attribution notices.

To request permission for other uses, email [email protected].

Section 05

Submissions & Contributed Content

When you submit an article, proposal, application, or any other content to The Catalyst, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to publish, edit, display, and distribute that content on the Site and in related promotions.

You represent and warrant that:

  • The content is your own original work.
  • It does not infringe the rights of any third party.
  • It does not contain false, defamatory, or misleading statements.
  • You have obtained any permissions necessary for quoted or referenced material.

We reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, length, and style, or to decline publication without explanation. Submissions do not create an employment or contractor relationship.

Section 06

Contributor Accounts

If you are granted a contributor or editorial account, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. You may not share your account with others. Notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect unauthorized use of your account.

We reserve the right to suspend or delete accounts at any time, particularly for inactivity, violations of these Terms, or departure from the publication.

Section 07

Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites or resources. These links are provided for convenience and do not constitute an endorsement. We have no control over and accept no responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or terms of any third-party site. Access them at your own risk.

Section 08

Disclaimers

The Site and its Content are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that the Site will be error-free, uninterrupted, or free of viruses or other harmful components.

Our articles are written by student contributors and are for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing on the Site constitutes professional medical, legal, financial, or scientific advice. Always consult a qualified professional before acting on information you read here.

Section 09

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Catalyst Magazine and its officers, contributors, and volunteers shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Site or reliance on its Content — even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Our total liability to you for any claim arising from your use of the Site shall not exceed one U.S. dollar ($1.00).

Section 10

Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If a change is material, we will make reasonable efforts to notify newsletter subscribers by email.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions.

Section 11

Contact Us

Questions about these Terms? Reach out at:

The Catalyst Magazine
2212 Washington Cir NW
Washington, DC 20037
[email protected]