Report of the International Committee
for the Year ending June 30, 2008

Appendix 1

The following information regarding the International Committee's previous recommendations to the Board of Directors was presented to the Forum held at the 2007 Annual Meeting.

The questions presented to the Forum:

Should Sigma Xi

• create chapters & stick pins on a map?
• have an international journal/magazine?
• have regional and international forums?
• promote international partnerships?
• provide commentaries or advice on global S&E issues?
• nurture the next generation of scientists?
• link science with informed global public policy?
• or.........?

1. Involvement of the Society
2. Proposals on Global Issues
3. The American Scientist
4. An International Magazine
5. Regionalization
6. Meetings

1. Regarding INVOLVEMENT, the International Committee strongly recommended to the Board of Directors that the President send a letter to the Chairman of the National Science Board, with respect to the upcoming report to the US Congress on the value of Science and Engineering Partnerships. This letter should not only express interest and a willingness to carry out a formal review of their recommendations, but that once adopted, Sigma Xi would be pleased to provide any assistance in its implementation. (Done)

2. On PROPOSALS ON GLOBAL ISSUES, the Committee noted that given the interdisciplinary nature of the Society, Sigma Xi is in a privileged position to assist with the development of policies regarding scientific initiatives that respond to problems on an international scale. Thus, the International Committee recommended that the Board take a pro-active position in reaching out to international organizations such as UNESCO and the World Bank in helping them develop policies that address global problems such as aids, malaria, etc. (This initiative gave way to the proposal of the Water Symposium and it was immediately take up by the interim ED of Sigma Xi, Dr. Linda Meadows)

3. With respect to the AMERICAN SCIENTIST, the International Committee recommended that the Board of Directors of Sigma Xi change the name of the magazine from American Scientist to more clearly reflect the vision of the Society. The new identity should be carefully crafted, and the change accomplished as an evolutionary and not revolutionary process. The rationale behind this petition is that if Sigma Xi is going to achieve its vision to be the global honor society of science and engineering, its highest visibility product must evolve, and its title must be globally inclusive. (Comments on this point made by the Committee on Publications, during their meeting held on June 5, 2007 follow)

4. As part of the evolutionary process, the Committee also recommended to the Board of Directors the implementation of a new, on-line, INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. This new publication would include articles from American Scientist, but also would accept articles that differ from the American Scientist norm in that they may be of less broad interest and be different in approach and format. A strong hands-on volunteer editorial board would be available to work with contributors, and augment the existing editorial staff. All contributors must be Sigma Xi members.

5. On REGIONALIZATION the International Committee recommended to the Board of Directors the elimination of the Canada/International Constituency Group. In its stead, redefined regions should be designated based on a minimum of 6 chapters/partners. Initially, there would be 9 regions: The United States (6 regions);Canada; Europe; Global Region at Large (to include anybody not in a currently qualified defined region)

   Additional regions can be formed by petition to the Board once the minimum number of chapters/partners has been attained. Potential future regions include Asia, Latin America and Oceania.

6. Finally and in dealing with MEETINGS, the International Committee recommended that the Annual Meeting format and venues be revised, so that the current Annual Meeting be held on a biennial basis, referred to as the Global Meeting. In alternate years, only regional meetings would be held and the venues and formats for the individual regional meetings should be determined by the regions themselves. The Board of Directors meetings would be held in conjunction with each global meeting and on a rotating basis in off-years in various regions. The Global Meetings themselves will also rotate among the regions.

On the other hand, at their meeting of June 5, 2007, the Committee on Publications reviewed the recommendations made by the International Committee and responded that regarding the name of the Society's publication, American Scientist, it appreciates the International Committee's caution in suggesting a name change, as the American Scientist brand carries great value established over many decades, but that such an effort should only be undertaken with very careful consideration.

It also considered imperative that any Sigma Xi publication, and any scientific material offered on the Internet in the name of Sigma Xi or American Scientist, should represent the highest possible standards in science and that launching a new high-quality international journal, may be impossibility under current constraints. It therefore concluded that an online journal with lower standards (of the kind that could be organized by a group of volunteer members without a large investment) would be more economical but, in the committee's opinion, would not represent Sigma Xi's standards to the world and for this reason, it opposed such a venture.

In addition, the committee encouraged the magazine editors to make all possible effort to cast their nets wide in search of the best authors on the planet. The magazine would certainly benefit if extra effort is made to find excellent science outside North America. The committee also supports regional newsletters, especially the concept of inserting regional news in overseas copies of American Scientist, as a good way to help members keep in touch and share regional news. Making such regional news available online would help members in other regions be informed.

Finally, the Committee on Publications expressed that it looks forward to a continued conversation with the International Committee on the how can Sigma Xi's international outlook be extended. It also recognized that the recommendations were intended to begin discussion and expressed that it would be glad to receive a more detailed proposal (consistent with the principles above), so that it could discuss the pros and cons of specific options.

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