Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society: Report of the Committee on Lectureships for the Year ending June 30, 2004

Leadership

About Sigma Xi » Committees » Descriptions » Lectureships » 2004

Report of the Committee on Lectureships
for the Year ending June 30, 2004

I. INTRODUCTION
It is my pleasure to report that the Sigma Xi Lectureship Program continues to be one of our Society's most successful endeavors. It provides outstanding lecturers to chapters, their host institutions and offers an opportunity for outreach to the broader community interested in science while strengthening the host chapters' programmatic endeavors.

II. THE SIGMA XI DISTINGUISHED LECTURERS
The 35 Distinguished Lecturers for 2004-2005 will address subjects and issues including science, mathematics, engineering, medicine, the history of science and technology, science philosophy and education. This year the Committee is pleased to announce that, in addition to the lecturers selected by the committee, the American Meteorological Society, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Society for Risk Analysis have each nominated speakers. Further, these organizations have provided funding to subsidize Sigma Xi chapters.

The list of 2004-2005 Distinguished Lecturers, along with their brief biographies, information about lecture titles and target audiences, was included in the January-February 2004 issue of American Scientist. The Lectureship Committee is keenly aware of the need to achieve a "balanced" assemblage of lecturers. This "balance" represents an effort to address not only discipline, but geographic, gender and ethnic plurality. These additional criteria enhance our primary responsibility to offer, as lecturers, outstanding research scientists and engineers who can deliver stimulating and effective lectures to a broad audience representing a wide range of disciplines.

III. LECTURESHIP SUBSIDY PROGRAM
Sigma Xi continues to provide modest subsidies for chapters to participate in its Distinguished Lectureship Program. Since the allocation of subsidy funds available is not adequate to meet demand, the Lectureship Committee gives priority to those chapters that demonstrate the greatest need and potential to benefit from Sigma Xi support. This decision is determined from information supplied on a standard subsidy application and in Chapter reports related to previous subsidization(s). For fiscal year 2004, a total of $26,045.00 in subsidies was awarded to 53 chapters.

IV. GUIDE FOR LECTURERS AND HOSTS
A pamphlet is available from Sigma Xi Administrative Offices that provides guidelines for both the Distinguished Lecturers and their host chapters. The guide is available on the Web site.

V. THE COMMITTEE
The Lectureship Committee meets each April to review subsidy applications and to identify new Distinguished Lecturers. My sincere appreciation is expressed to the members who have/continue to serve, so ably, on this Committee. The members of the Committee for the year ending 30 June 2004 were:

Dave Campbell (Biology, Education)
Jane Gilman (Mathematics)
Daryl Lund (Agriculture, Soil Science)
Cora Marrett (Sociology)
Victor McCrary (Computer Science, Engineering)
John Prados (Engineering)
Elizabeth Reitz (Archaeology, Anthropology)
Myron Uman (Engineering, Physical Sciences)
John Watson, Chair (Biochemistry, Medicine)

The Committee is very interested in comments and suggestions. Please forward your comments to the Chair of the Committee, John A. Watson or to Kevin Bowen, Manager, and Distinguished Lectureships for Sigma Xi.

Sincerely,
John A. Watson
Chair, Committee on Lectureships