In this third issue of Impact, we explore the general theme of capacity-building. Rather than write about technical training programs or institutional mechanisms, we opted to take a slightly different angle by exploring more personal perspectives on "The Making of a GE³LS Researcher". The objective is to demonstrate the many unique and interesting career pathways that researchers have travelled to get to the common GE³LS 'space'. The personal stories featured in this issue encapsulate the diversity, passion and courage of various individuals working in different academic fields, across different sectors and regions of Canada. These stories are intended to inspire researchers – particularly the new generation of GE³LS researchers – into believing they too can evolve their careers across disciplinary boundaries and in non-traditional ways to study the kinds of questions they care about and believe to be important for society.

The careers featured in this issue reflect different personal journeys that evolved through long-standing interest in genomics and societal issues, or through opportunities that came about simply by necessity or happenstance. Some describe the influence of inspirational mentors or the experience of deeply reflective "Ah-Ha!" moments throughout their careers. Common across these personal stories is a natural curiosity to explore the outer margins of a single discipline, sector or region – "to think beyond the obvious" as Professor Abdallah Daar says. These GE³LS researchers have a genuine interest to understand interrelationships between concepts and actors and a keen desire to study broader aspects of science and its impacts on society. Although they may approach common research questions, they do so from different perspectives and using different tools. And while the means chosen may be different, their end-goal – as Professor Mike Burgess points out – is often the same: "to make a difference, to create a better world".

We hope that this issue of Impact can help demystify what's behind the "GE³LS" acronym and who are the real people who make up the broad spectrum of GE³LS-related disciplines. If this issue of Impact can encourage at least one new researcher to pursue unique and creative opportunities, follow non-traditional paths, or blaze through uncharted territories to study the kinds of research questions they really care about and believe to be important for science and society, then it will have achieved its purpose.

Enjoy this issue of Impact, and as always, we welcome your feedback.