Report of the International Committee
for the Year Ending June 30, 2009

Introduction
During its August 2008 meeting the Executive Committee of Sigma Xi reviewed and accepted the petition of Dr. Vera Alexander to step down as Chair of the International Committee and approved the appointment of Dr. Antonio Pita as new Chair of the same. The Board later confirmed this appointment at its November 2008 meeting and together with all the members of the International Committee expressed their gratitude to Dr. Vera Alexander for her guidance, enthusiasm and excellent work as past Chair of the Committee and offered to continue with her good efforts for truly making of Sigma Xi "THE" Honor Research Society.

Highlights of the Committee's work
Although the International Committee did not propose any major changes to the Board during the year 2008-09, it continued to hold its recommendation to establish regional constituencies of their own when the International chapters/partners in a certain region reach a successful "critical mass". The Committee believes that this change is an important factor in the development of increased international membership and expansion and that it would also promote changes in periodic meeting locations that would also help in the Internationalization of the Society.

As part of the Committee's decision to participate in the Water Initiative's theme of the Society's Annual Meeting that was held in Washington, DC in November, 2008, the Committee organized 2 workshops in support of the main panel discussion that was carried out in this topic: One of these was organized and facilitated by Committee member Dr. Satyajit (Sat) Bhattacharya. His invited guest was Vernon Masayesva, chief of Arizona's Hopi reservation, who led an interesting discussion to a standing room only crowd on Dry Land Farming. The second workshop was moderated by Dr. Antonio Pita and had as guests Dr. Mark Shannon, from the University of Illinois and Dr. Fedro Zazueta, Associate CIO of the University of Florida. Dr. Shannon led the workshop by introducing the topic of Water Sustainability for the People of the World and its Nexus to the Economy, Energy, and the Environment, while Dr. Zazueta followed with a discussion on Water and the 21st Century's problems of Technology and its Adoption.

After the Boards approval of the charter of the Nordic chapter during its May meeting, on July 3d, 2009 Dr. Pita, in representation of the Board, initiated the Nordic Chapter in a ceremony held at the University of Oslo. The rector of this university, Dr. Geir Ellinsgrud wrote the letter of support that made this university be the host institution for this chapter.

The University of Oslo is the flagship university in the Norwegian national system, which includes six others, all offering higher degrees through the Ph.D. by internationally qualified faculties. Comparable systems exist in all the Nordic Region, which nurtures one of the finest scientific research environments in the world. Included are 71 fully endowed universities and research institutions, along with many other educational organizations with specific purpose. Furthermore, each country of the Nordic Region has at least one national academy of science,

The charter for the Nordic chapter was received by Dr. Paul Kettler, its dully elected president. The Installation Agenda covered a presentation on Sigma Xi, given by Dr. Pita, as well as a presentation given by Dr. Kettler, who made a very interesting review

Committee Meetings
As during 2007-08, the Committee was not able to hold a face-to-face meeting during 2008-09, but a teleconference meeting was held on March 11, 2009.

International Committee Members

Committee Chair: Dr. Antonio Pita (Dir. Canadian/International Constituency Group)
Members of the Committee
Dr. Vera Alexander (Fisheries & Ocean Sciences; Univ of Alaska)
Dr. Satyajit (Sat) Bhattacharya (Pres & CEO Harlem Children Soc)
Dr. Michael P. Crosby (The National Science Board)
Dr. George J. Hammons (Philander Smith College)
Dr. Gretchen Kalonji (Dir Int. Strat. Dev; U of Ca Office of President)
Dr. Zara Khatib(Shell Oil Co.)
Dr. K.Venkatesh Prasad (Ford)
Dr. Robert A. Schwartz (Dermatology Dept MSBH)

Appendix 1 International Member News eBlast
Appendix 2 Minuted of Conference Call Held with Dr. Karen Oates