Contents:
What is Sigma Xi?
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, is nonprofit membership society of approximately 60,000 scientists and engineers who were elected to the Society because of their research achievements or potential. Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi has more than 500 chapters at universities and colleges, government laboratories and industry research centers. In addition to publishing American Scientist magazine, Sigma Xi awards grants annually to promising young researchers, holds forums on critical issues at the intersection of science and society, and sponsors a variety of programs supporting honor in science and engineering, science education, science policy and the public understanding of science.
Grants-in-Aid of Research
Grants-in-Aid of Research are open to undergraduate students, and requests from all disciplines of science are eligible for consideration. Awards are determined by a committee of Sigma Xi members from a variety of disciplines in the international pool of membership. The committee meets twice a year to evaluate proposals. Deadlines are October 15 and March 15. Committee members do not review applications from their own institutions. Several Hamilton College students have been recipients of these grants, so if you want to learn more about this resource, check out the Sigma Xi web pages for information and for guidelines and the interactive application.
Membership Categories
There are two categories of membership in Sigma Xi: Associate Members and Members. The distinction between these categories is that between evidence of research potential and documented research achievement. Membership in either category is based solely on evidence of research aptitude and achievement, not on scholastic performance as measured by grades or by the possession of any degree. Individuals who have been elected Associate Members at the outset of their research work may subsequently be promoted to full membership.
Sigma Xi is more than a "recognition society" that has the recognition of achievement as its primary purpose. Sigma Xi exists to encourage further scientific research. Because its members are drawn from all branches of science, Sigma Xi gives particular emphasis to the integration of research activities across the spectrum of science, and to the communication of research ideas, methodology, and achievements. [These words from a 1982-83 society brochure continue to be accurate today.]
Membership in Sigma Xi is by invitation
Those who have shown potential as researchers, and who show promise of continued commitment to research, are invited to join as associate members. Full membership is conferred upon those who have demonstrated noteworthy achievements in research. In April of each academic year, full and active members of our chapter nominate Associate Members. More about our chapter's procedures and criteria ...
The Hamilton College Chapter
Hamilton College is fortunate to be among the 51 baccalaureate colleges that have a Chapter of Sigma Xi. Created in 1965 from previous status as a Club, our active membership includes scientists at Hamilton College, Utica College and Colgate University, scientists in industry around Utica, NY and loyal former students who are scattered around the world. Chapter members organize a Poster Session at the beginning of each academic year for presentation of summer research conducted by undergraduates. Our Science Speaker Series that appealed to a regional audience for years has been replaced by an abundance of science department seminars, endowed science lectures, and student presentations of research. The Chapter has celebrated significant anniversaries with poster sessions and speaker events that include and feature alumni scientists during Hamilton College's fall reunions. Members participate indvidually in outreach programs to local elementary and secondary schools and serve as judges in local science fairs. In May we feature the research of our nominees for as the program of our Annual Banquet. We have presented Certficates of Recognition to graduating science students, Teacher Recognition Awards to local secondary and elementary school teachers, Travel Awards to regional science fair winners to assist participation in a national science fair, and Science Support Awards to noteworthy organizers of local Science Fairs.
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President |
Jen Borton [psychology] |
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Vice President |
Tara McKee [psychology] |
|
Secretary / Treasurer |
Sue Ann Miller [biology] |
Our chapter initiated 31 Associate Members and
4 Full Members at our Annual Banquet on the
Friday before the Hamilton College Commencement. Associate
members included a student from Utica College and 3 alumni
from the Hamilton Class of 2008. Our program features the
research accomplishments of new initiates and includes
students' families in the celebration.This year we had to
move our event to the Tolles Pavillion, because the number
of family members wishing to join the banquet exceeded the
legal capacity of our Science Center atrium. Chapter Lunch & Science Series: Aach Dietz,
mathematics, "A Parametric Correlation Framework for
Statistical Evaluation and Estimation of Biometric-based
Classification Performance" Chapter Lunch & Science Series: Gene Domack,
geoscience, "Neoproterozoic Tillites and Carbonates,
Odd Couple of the Otavi Platform, Namibia" The Hamilton College Summer Science
Research Collaborations poster session was held
in the atrium of our Science Center. This event coincides
wth Family Weekend so that parents and siblings can share in
the excitement of the research. Chapter Lunch & Science Series: Jean Burr and
Mark Oakes, psychology, "Using the Implicit Association
Test to Measure Attitudes about Relational
Aggression Chapter Lunch & Science Series: Robin Kinnel,
chemistry, "The EMSI Initiative: What's in it for
you?"
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Image courtesy of Chapter President Jen Borton |
Chapter
member, Eugene
Domack,
the Joel Johnson Family Professor of Environmental Studies,
is a very busy fellow. He spoke about
"Natural Variability and Recent Trends in Sediment
Transport in Eastern Oneida Lake" at the 2008 ONEIDA
LAKE WATERSHED CONFERENCE: Economic and Environmental Trends
in the Oneida Lake Watershed on 21 October 2008 in Cicero,
NY. He
gave an invited
talk on "Environmental Change and the Larsen Ice
Shelf"
to
the Geological Survey of Canada for the Logan Club on
September 25, in Ottawa. In August 2008
he gave an invited keynote talk at the 33rd Annual
International Geological Congress in Oslo, Norway. His talk
was titled "Chronologic Constraints on Deglaciation of
the Antarctic Continental Shelf, A Review of Radiocarbon
Methods and Applications." For nine days 6,000
scientists from 112 countries took part in lively
discussions within almost every conceivable aspect of
geology. The abstract text of his talk is posted
here. Copyright © 2008 The
Trustees of Hamilton College
