Report of the President to the 1998 Assembly of Delegates

In this President's report I want to review some themes of the past two years. I expect these will continue to be important over the next several years, although succeeding Presidents will certainly want to lead us into new areas, and time will bring new activities from Chapters and Regions.

We have had many discussions of the governance of the Society. In the last Assembly there seemed to be considerable sentiment in favor of changes in the Board, and in international organization, and therefore regional organization. The Executive Committee placed some suggestions for changes before the Board, and the Board has approved changes in the Constitution and Bylaws, thereby forwarding them to the next Assembly of Delegates for their consideration. It is my hope that the proposed changes in the Constitution and Bylaws will be passed by the Assembly, and will make our system of governance more representative of various segments of the Society, and more representative of the Chapters, Regions and Members-at-Large.

We continue to suffer erosion in the number of our members. There appears to be some decrease in interest on many campuses in the very idea of an honor society, apparently partly as the result of a general feeling against what is perceived as ‘elitism' Nevertheless, many chapters are strong, and gaining in strength, and, in some cases, in regional integration and activities. We should continue to champion our tradition of recognizing and honoring the best of research talent and accomplishment, and try to spread this idea to campuses where it has fallen into disuse by finding ways to revitalize the local leadership. We hope that we can use some of the organizational aspects of the proposed new governance system to reinvigorate interest in Sigma Xi, especially on some larger campuses and research university campuses where it has decayed.

In spite of the decrease in membership, we are in good financial shape, and have excellent prospects for the coming years. Planning for the building and financing of a new headquarters building in Research Triangle Park has begun, as planned and required by our move there. New computer systems at headquarters have enabled new possibilities in communicating with our chapters and members. We are just beginning to understand how the new systems, e-mail and the internet can help knit the society together, and increase its usefulness by communication in all directions.

Led by the energetic activities of the Chapters in Michigan, groups of Chapters are beginning to take a Science Advocacy role. Entering into a dialogue with state and national legislators, they provide educational opportunities for them on the nature of R&D, and of the scientific and technological enterprise generally. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of science and technology to the economic and social success of the community and the nation, and therefore to the work of the state legislature and the Congress.

There have been ongoing discussions of possible active roles of Society and its members in ensuring continued education on ethical issues in science, and in helping to resolve scientific ethics cases, questions and issues. I hope that Sigma Xi will find an actively helpful role to play in this ongoing public issue.

The Society is now operating the Media Service, which connects journalists with scientists who are experts on the scientific aspects of developing media stories. In general, the Society, through its Chapters and Headquarters, could play an increasingly important role in the public understanding of science, and in scientific education at all levels. The Chapters have a special opportunity at the local and regional levels.

There continue to be public attacks, and attacks on many campuses, on the very nature and practice of science. These attacks are not only on the possibility of science, and on systems for insuring its integrity, by their nature they are also attacks on the possibility of any reasonably certain human knowledge. They are thus more serious than just attacks on science, they are attacks upon the bases of a common civilization. As part of our role in public understanding of science, Sigma Xi should play an educational role in these debates at the campus, local, regional, national and international levels.

During the past two years we have had two successful Forums on important topics. We succeeded in integrating these Forums with our Annual Meetings and Assemblies, so that our Delegates could take advantage of the opportunity to participate in them.

It has been an honor to have served as your President. I would like to thank the members, the Officers and Board, our excellent, dedicated and active staff, and especially Executive Director Peter Blair, for their enthusiasm and support, and for the education they have given me into Sigma Xi, its values, and its important roles in our community. We are well poised to enter the next millennium under new leadership and a new governance system as an active and vital part of the scientific and technological community.

Robert A. Frosch, President, Sigma Xi