Report of the Committee on Lectureships
for the Year Ending June 30, 2000

1. Introduction
   It is my pleasure to report to you that the Sigma Xi Lectureship Program continues to be one of our Society's most successful endeavors, providing outstanding lecturers to chapters and their host institutions. The lectureship program offers an opportunity for outreach to the broader community interested in science while contributing to the strength of the host chapters’ programmatic endeavors.

2. The Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturers
   The 27 Distinguished Lecturers for 2000-2001 address subjects and issues including science, mathematics, engineering, medicine, the history of science and technology, science philosophy and education. For 2001-2002, there will be 30 Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturers. In addition the American Meteorological Society nominates a lecturer and provides funding for subsidies to chapters wishing to host a lecture on this topic.

   The list of 2000-2001 Distinguished Lecturers, along with brief biographies and information about lecture titles and audiences, was included in the November-December 1999 issue of American Scientist. The article was also reprinted and sent in a mailing to chapter officers. The Lectureship Committee faces the task of achieving a "balanced" assemblage of lecturers. The balance addresses not only discipline, but geography, gender and ethnicity as well. These secondary criteria are added to our primary responsibility to offer as lecturers outstanding research scientists and engineers who can deliver a stimulating and effective lecture to an audience representing a broad range of disciplines.

3. Lectureship Subsidy Program
   Sigma Xi provides modest subsidies for chapters to participate in the Sigma Xi Distinguished Lectureship Program. Because funds available for subsidies are not adequate to meet the demand, the Committee on Lectureships gives priority to those chapters that can demonstrate the greatest potential benefit and the greatest need. This is determined from information supplied on subsidy applications and in reports from previously subsidized visits. Each chapter that receives a subsidy is required to submit a report which is reviewed by the Committee. For the fiscal year 1999-2000, $18,701.15 in subsidies were awarded to 44 Chapters.

4. Guide for Lecturers and Hosts
   A pamphlet is available from Sigma Xi Headquarters that provides guidelines for both the Distinguished Lecturers and their host chapters. If you do not have a copy we encourage you to request one.

5. The Committee
   The Committee meets each April to review subsidy applications and to identify new Distinguished Lecturers. Most lecturers serve for two years so the new group adds to the second-year veterans. I express my sincere appreciation to those who served so ably on this Committee and to our headquarters staff member, Deborah Donati. The members of the Committee for the year ending 30 June 2000 were:

   Rama Bansil (Physics)
   Josh Dranoff (Engineering)
   Heather McKillop (Anthropology)
   Patricia Sipe (Mathematics)
   John Watson (Biochemistry, Medicine)

The Committee is very interested in comments and suggestions. Please forward your comments to me or to Pamela Blondin, Director of Membership and Chapter Programs for Sigma Xi.

Sincerely,
William A. Lester, Jr. (Chemistry)
Chair, Committee on Lectureships