Report of the Committee on Programs
for the Year Ending June 30, 1998

During the year ending June 30, 1998, the Committee on Programs served as a vehicle for a variety of program activities for Sigma Xi in addition to maintaining its traditional activities that it inherited from the former Committees on Science and Society and Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education.

For the November 1997 Forum and Annual Meeting, the Committee selected Dr. John H. Gibbons, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, as the John P. McGovern Science and Society Lecturer. On Friday, November 21, 1997, during the Society's Forum on Trends in Industrial Innovation: Industry Perspective & Policy Implications, Dr. Gibbons' McGovern Lecture, "Science and Technology: Foundation for Economic Growth," was given by Dr. Rosina Bierbaum of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Dr. Gibbons was detained in China on a state visit.

Also during the November 1997 meeting, three members of the Committee, who already were at the meeting, met with the Society's President, Executive Director, and Deputy Executive Director, to discuss potential program activities for the Society and to review existing programs of the Committee. Among the programs suggested for possible adoption and implementation by the Committee were electronic polling of the membership on key issues, a electronic journal of undergraduate research, the prospects of expanding the science advocacy efforts pioneered by the Michigan Chapters in meeting with members of Congress on science issues, the possibility of expanding the "scientist in the classroom" effort initiated by the North Carolina State University Chapter, and a variety of programs that might address the Society's declining membership. These, and other possible activities, will continue to occupy the Committee in its future deliberations.

Through its Chair, the Committee on Programs participated in meetings of the Committee on Long-Range Planning in October 1997 and January 1998. The complete report of the Committee on Long-Range Planning for these meetings is contained in this booklet. During these meetings, the Committee on Long-Range Planning dealt with broad issues in Sigma Xi that included membership, programs, the Sigma Xi Center, and how the Society might fund these activities. A significant part of the Committee on Long-Range Planning activities focused on membership and in establishing possible program priorities for Sigma Xi members and chapters that would increase the value of membership in the Society. The latter discussions, and the participation of the Committee's Chair in these discussions, helped to provide some perspective as to how the Committee on Programs might relate to other activities of the Society.

At the request of the Society's Executive Director, the Chair of the Committee appointed Richard Rowberg, Peter Blair and himself as a subcommittee of the Committee on Programs to help American Scientist locate substantive experts to serve as moderators for the magazine's new internet discussion groups that were introduced on the magazine's Web site. The subcommittee located Dr. Harvey Choldin from the University of Illinois to moderate the discussion in the May-June 1998 issue of the magazine of the article, "Sampling and the Census 2000" by Tommy Wright and Dr. Marian Chertow from Yale University to moderate the discussion in the July-August 1998 issue of the magazine of the article "Is Combustion of Plastics Desirable" by Piasecki, Rainey, and Fletcher. This subcommittee will continue to assist the magazine by suggesting appropriate moderators for these discussion groups.

During the year ending June 30, 1998, the Committee continued to endorse the Society's program of supporting chapters to recognize outstanding K-12 teaching in science and mathematics. During the year, 56 K-12 teachers of science and mathematics were honored by chapters and received either a framed certificate of recognition or a plaque. In addition, each chapter agreed to at least match a $25 stipend for the teacher that was provided via the Committee. 23 certificates of recognition were also provided for individuals who were selected by chapters for their noteworthy support of research scientists and engineers.

The Committee continued to sponsor a program of providing grants up to $1,000 to assist chapters in their K-16 educational activities. During the past year, proposals from chapters were reviewed by a subcommittee of the Committee on Programs that included Carol Burger (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Chapter), Billy Joe Evans (University of Michigan Chapter), Bridget Lewin (University of California at Santa Barbara Chapter), David Peak (Utah State university Chapter), and Willie Pearson (Wake Forest University Chapter); Dr. Pearson served as chair of the subcommittee. For the year ending June 30, 1998, the subcommittee, on behalf of the Committee, awarded grants to support the activities of the Louisiana Tech University Chapter for its program "Tutoring to Encourage Minority Students in Mathematics and Science," and to the Clemson University Chapter for its program "A Mini Research Grants Program for High School Students." Information on this program, and application forms, are available in the programs area of Sigma Xi's Web site.

Robert P. Morgan, Chair, Committee on Programs
Radford Byerly Jr.
Vanessa N. Gamble
Phillip A. Griffiths
Willie Pearson, Jr.
Richard Rowberg
Juarine Stewart
Robert Zand