April 2009
Sigma Xi Student Member Newsletter
Welcome to your Member eBlast. This communiqué depends on your news and views. So e-mail us now at development@sigmaxi.org. We always welcome your contributions.
N.B.: Dates in parenthesis after Members' names denotes their year of induction into Sigma Xi.
IN THIS ISSUE
FIRST REGIONAL SIGMA XI INSTITUTE ANNOUNCED FOR MAY 14-16 IN RTP, NC
The first regional gatherings of Sigma Xi members will be held May 14-16 at the Society's headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C. This is not a governance meeting like our Annual Meeting & International Research Conference. The RTP gathering will have professional seminars, colloquium based on member interests and speakers designed to challenge members at all life and professional stages. Among the seminars to be offered are:
- The Scientific Leader: A Short Course in Personal & Professional Leadership
- National Digital Science Library: Developmental Scaled Research & Education Source
- Grant Proposal Development 2.0: Government & Foundations
- Scientific Team Leadership: Managing Collaboration for Effective Outcomes
- The Sigma Xi Financial Planning Reality Check
- Sigma Xi Chapter Leadership: Officers Training & Chapter Revitalization
- Career Plan Development for the Science & Engineering Professional
- Two Colloquies: Science Cafes and The Future of the K-12 Science Vocational Pipeline
To access full descriptions and online registration go to: http://www.sigmaxi.org/member/seminars/index.shtml
Please note that many of these seminars are for Sigma Xi members (student, transitional, regular, life and emeritus) and that many are offered at no cost. The goal is to host two additional gatherings during 2009, most likely in Southern California and Boston. If you live in the Southeast, please put May 14-16 on your calendars and look for more details upcoming print and electronic formats for members.
NEW! SIGMA XI OFFERS INTENSIVE TWO-DAY RESEARCH GRANT PROPOSAL SEMINAR
Sigma Xi, in collaboration with The Implementation Group, Inc. (TIG) based in Washington, D.C., has developed an intensive two-day, 18-hour course for the early career scientist, providing hands-on training in writing successful research grant proposals for: National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and private sector sources. The seminar will first be offered Thursday, May 14, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday, May 15, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The registration deadline is May 6. The cost to Sigma Xi members is $400 (including two lunches) and $600 for non-members. We encourage student members to share this opportunity with your non-member peers.
The curriculum is based on the most recent public priorities and guidelines for each funder. The instructors together have more than 60 years of successful proposal writing and reviewing experience. "The Society intentionally selected The Implementation Group and this design to provide the highest quality course at an extraordinarily affordable price," stated PHILLIP CATES, director of Sigma Xi Organizational Advancement.
The lead instructors will include Dr. CARL A. BATT, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor in the department of food science at Cornell University, who serves as director of the Cornell University/Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Partnership and is the co-founder and former co-director of the Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC), a National Science Foundation supported Science and Technology Center. He will be joined by Dr. JOSEPH G. DANEK, senior vice president of The Implementation Group, which provides consulting services to universities, schools and other not-for-profit organizations in science, mathematics, engineering and technology education and research improvement. Prior to joining TIG, Dr. Danek spent 26 years with the National Science Foundation in a variety of positions including: director, Office of Systemic Reform; Director, Human Resource Development Division; and director, Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Drs. Batt and Danek will be joined by an expert in NIH funding.
The participant will receive an assessment and recommendations on their planned research proposal idea or concept and onsite coaching in proposal development. The guidance provided will utilize recent successful proposals for each of the major funding areas, provide assistance in identification of alternative funding sources, and best practice-based guidance on the critical broader impact components of successful proposals, including integration of education and research, outreach, ethical compliance, diversity and evaluation.
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FINANCIAL/INVESTMENT "REALITY CHECK" SEMINAR FOR MEMBERS
Life members are invited to attend a financial assessment and planning resource course from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on either Thursday, May 14, or Friday, May 15, at the Society's headquarters-3106 East NC Highway 54, Research Triangle Park, N.C. Each seminar will begin with a detailed global, national and sector-based economic forecast delivered on Thursday by MICHAEL WALDEN, Ph.D. and on Friday, DOUG PIERCE, Ph.D., both esteemed economics professors at N.C. State University. The following content will be led by similarly respected financial planning and investment professionals providing you a personal current status "reality check" on the effectiveness of your financial planning and progress toward achieving your goals. This is one of the seminars that will also be offered as part of future regional gatherings of Sigma Xi members. There is no charge for seminar participation and lunch is provided, but a reservation is required. To register go to: http://www.sigmaxi.org/member/seminars/seminars.shtml#reality
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DAY COURSES FOR THE SCIENTIFIC LEADER AND IN SCIENTIFIC TEAM LEADERSHIP
Sigma Xi, in cooperation with FranklinCovey™, is offering two day-long seminars in leadership for the scientist and the engineer in Research Triangle Park, N.C., as part of the Sigma Xi Institutes. THE SCIENTIFIC LEADER seminar will be held on Thursday, May 14, and will provide a unique set of insights and resources utilizing content from FranklinCoveyTM Leadership, 7 Habits, Project Management and Communications Solutions. Simply stated, Sigma Xi's goal is to ensure that the participant leaves this seminar with a demonstrably improved understanding of social and work settings, greater confidence in their personal and professional capacity for leadership, better project time management tools and a renewed enthusiasm for their scientific work. SCIENTIFIC TEAM LEADERSHIP provides scientific and engineering groups and managers with the skills and processes to manage projects large or small ensure projects are aligned with key organizational goals, and then execute on time and within budget. This short course applies the "Four Disciplines of Execution" to the scientific research endeavor whether in an academic, business or government setting.
For more information on both seminars go to: http://www.sigmaxi.org/member/seminars/index.shtml
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U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE SEEKS INPUT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Sigma Xi members are invited to provide input to the U.S. House Agriculture Committee on proposals to address climate change. The committee is soliciting the opinions of more than 400 scientific, agricultural, environmental and educational groups through a print- and Web-based questionnaire. The deadline for responses is April 10, 2009. "This is an opportunity for Sigma Xi members to be heard on important issues," according to Sigma Xi Executive Director JERRY BAKER (1990). For more information and to access the questionnaire, visit: http://sigmaxi.org/about/news/2009USHouse.shtml
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CALL FOR STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
On November 13 and 14, 2009 undergraduate and graduate students will join research scientists from North America and abroad for a celebration of research accomplishments hosted by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, the global honor society for science and engineering research.
Student poster presentations will be evaluated in: Behavioral Sciences, Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geo-Sciences, Math & Computer Science, Physics & Astronomy, Physiology & Immunology and Interdisciplinary Research.
Conference activities include:
- Student research presentations to be evaluated by leading career scientists.
- Interactions with eminent scientists and engineers from around the world at social events.
- Network with graduate school recruiters and potential employers.
- Educational sessions on cutting-edge research and effective science communication.
More Information can be found online at: http://www.sigmaxi.org/meetings/annual/index.shtml
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NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING ELECTS 31 SIGMA XI MEMBERS
Thirty-one Sigma Xi members are among those recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Election to the NAE is among the highest distinctions accorded to an engineer. Membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice or education. For more information: http://sigmaxi.org/about/news/2009NAE.shtml
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PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE AND IMPROVING SCIENCE EDUCATION
Working with the National Science Teachers Association, the Pete Conrad Foundation, the Shodor Educational Foundation and the Future Farmers of America, Sigma Xi is launching an online volunteer leadership platform at http://sigmaxileadership.org. From providing technical assistance to High School Conrad Spirit of Innovation teams to being a science competition judge in both the United States and Canada, the number and variety of opportunities to provide volunteer scientific leadership will grow over the coming year. The site will be fully operational in late May 2009, but we encourage you to go to the site now and register interests and availability.
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SEND US A LINK TO YOUR SCIENCE BLOG
Sigma Xi plans to create a page on its Web site that features links to members' science blogs. If you have a blog about science or technology that you would like us to include, send a brief summary (50 words) of what the blog is about and a link to it to: aporter@sigmaxi.org. For example, neuroscientist W. R. "BILL" KLEMM (1963) at Texas A&M University has a blog called "Thank You Brain" that reflects his views on learning and memory. The blog was created to update his book, "Thank You Brain for All You Remember," on what science reveals about improving everyday memory. It features summaries of research reports that have practical applications. You can visit it at: http://thankyoubrain.blogspot.com
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PUBLISHER LOOKING FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS ON SCIENCE
Magic World Media is a new children's book publishing company focused on publishing imaginative picture books and early chapter books on scientific topics that extend the world view of children beyond their sensory experience and introduce them to the vastness of what is still unknown. Their first titles will be launched in the fall of this year. They are now actively seeking manuscripts for publication in 2010 and beyond on various topics and are particularly interested in the topics of dark matter and light. Visit http://www.magicworldmedia.com to view submission guidelines. To be considered for publication in 2010, picture book manuscripts must be received by May 31, 2009, and chapter book manuscripts by October 31.
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THE MICHELSON PRIZE IN REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Found Animals will offer a $25 million prize for a safe, effective and practical non-surgical sterilant for use in cats and dogs. The winning entry for the Michelson Prize in Reproductive Biology will have, at minimum, the following characteristics: Single dose, non-surgical sterilant; safe and effective in male and female, cats and dogs; suitable for administration in a field setting, either orally or by injection; viable pathway to regulatory approval; and reasonable manufacturing process and cost. Up to $50 million in grant funding is available for research directed at achieving this goal. For more information, visit: http://www.FoundAnimals.org
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JOIN THE WORLD COMMUNITY GRID
World Community Grid's mission is to create the largest public computing grid benefiting humanity. Its work is built on the belief that technological innovation combined with visionary scientific research and large-scale volunteerism can change our world for the better. Its success depends on individuals collectively contributing their unused computer time to this not-for-profit endeavor. Donate the time your computer is turned on, but is idle, to projects that benefit humanity! Secure software that does it all is provided for free. For details, visit: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTES
Sigma Xi members may be interested in teaching science and technology courses through the Osher Lifelong Learning Network, a group of 122 institutes at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. The courses are for older people who want to learn simply for the joy of learning and personal fulfillment. For more about the program, visit: http://usm.maine.edu/olli/national/. To find an institute near you, check here: http://www.usm.maine.edu/olli/national/map.jsp
Do you know of other volunteer opportunities in your area? Let us know! We'll pass along the information in future eBlasts.
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WEALTH PRESERVATION AND PHILANTHROPIC PLANNING
For the most up-to-date wealth preservation and philanthropic planning information and news, go to http://sigmaxi.giftlegacy.com and click on "Finance News."
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SIGMA XI MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
A National Science Foundation grant of almost $500,000 to the University of Louisiana at Monroe will support a three-year project to digitize the images and data of more than 1 million plant specimens in 15 Louisiana herbaria. "CyberFlora Louisiana" is the brainchild of ULM Associate Professor of Biology THOMAS SASEK (1986) and is one of the first statewide projects of its kind. The digitized images and data will be freely available through a central Web site that, once completed, will offer fast data sorting and filtering, rapid delivery of images, mapping of specimen locations and checklists of plants for particular locations. For more information, contact Sasek at sasek@ulm.edu.
ORA HIRSCH PESCOVITZ (1989) was recently named chief executive officer of the University of Michigan Health System and executive vice president for medical affairs at the University of Michigan.
STEPHANIE SHIPMAN (1982), at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, received the Alva and Gunnar Myrdal Government Award from the American Evaluation Association for work that is highly influential in government contexts and for furthering the interests of program evaluation in government through advocacy and sponsorship.
JOSEPH M. GOWGIEL (1956) will receive the Raffaele Suriano Award from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry this spring. The award is named for a former dean of Loyola's dental school. Gowgiel had a distinguished teaching career at the Zoller Dental Clinic of the University of Chicago, in the Department of Anatomy at the Loyola University Chicago School of Dentistry and as director of the Loyola Oral Biology Program.
STEPHEN J. BENKOVIC (1970), Evan Pugh Professor and Eberly Family Chair in Chemistry at Penn State, will receive the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science on April 23, during a gala black-tie ceremony and dinner at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. He is being honored for his "groundbreaking contributions to our mechanistic understanding of enzymes, and for helping to unravel the complexities of the enzymes involved in DNA replication."
KATHERINE E. BRUCE (1988) has been named 2008 North Carolina Professor of the Year by CASE/Carnegie, largely for facilitating and supporting undergraduate research on the campus of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she is a professor of psychology and director of the Honors Scholars Program.
BRIAN M. DAVIS (2002) has been selected by the Oregon State University College of Engineering to receive the "Oregon Stater Award," which honors outstanding alumni and friends for their contributions to the engineering profession and Oregon State University. He is being inducted into the Council of Outstanding Early Career Engineers. He credits Jacques Whitford NAWE and Stantec for the opportunity to expand and practice his engineering skills in engineered wetland technologies for industrial and domestic wastewater treatment-truly a cutting-edge, green technology in environmental engineering.
JIM A. WALSH (1962), retired professor from the Chemistry Department of John Carroll University, has published an "entertainment" titled "Death Comes For The Provost" (540 pages, ISBN: 978-0-615-26838-5). Further information is available at http://www.JohnTKWalsh.net
ALEX SCRIABINE (1981), Greg Rose and H. Stern video interviewed some well-known neuroscientists on the subject of drug discovery and development on http://www.pharmexperts.com . Z. Khachaturian, R. Flavell, J. Buffacusco, D. Woodruff-Pak. R. Quirion and D. Piomelli spoke about new approaches to the therapy of Alzheimer's disease. Waxman discussed the role of Na channels in the midulation of pain; M. Rogawski summarized his research on the use of neurosteroids in the control of epilepsy; and L. Dwoskin reviewed current approaches to the treatment of nicotine addiction. Access to the video interviews is free.
WILLIAM D. ROMEY (1961) announces the publication of his latest e-book, "Journals of a Geologist-Geographer in Russia," published in January by Ash Lad Press, P.O. Box 294, East Orleans, MA 02643. The book comes on a CD in Microsoft Word format for $10, including postage. (Please make checks out to Bill Romey.) The book contains more than 1,000 color photos of Romey's travels in Russia and experiences with things Russian and with Russia geoscientists over the past 50 years. This e-book and others of Romey's are listed at http://www.libri-terrarum.com, with details about their content. Bill recently gave a talk to more than 100 people at the Snow Library in East Orleans, Massachusetts, called "Old Geologists Never Die: They Just Sail Away to Antarctica." It dealt with Bill's experiences over a dozen years after his retirement from St. Lawrence University, as a lecturer and naturalist aboard various expedition ships sailing to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. One of Bill's earlier e-books (2004) describes the geology of commonly visited tourist sites in those areas.
J. ALLISON BUTLER (1995) was recently elected to serve as president of the GIS Certification Institute and has had a book published by ESRI Press called "Designing Geodatabases for Transportation." This book is the first to show scientists and application developers how to design and deploy spatio-temporal databases to support transportation applications, like inventory control, pathfinding and traffic modeling.
JOHN ERICKSON (1961), an emeritus member at Western Washington University, writes: "I am feeling fine at 85. We have completed several years of full-time RV traveling, and living in a campground in Livingston, Texas. I really appreciate the magazine and the daily and weekly newsletters from American Scientist. American Scientist (and other journals, I presume-I see Discover and Smithsonian) are doing great work, of late, with news and urgings about energy efficiency and other environmental concerns. But sadly missing is any mention of the root problem of our global woes: overpopulation! I would like to see a major article address this aspect of the world's problems."
JOHN CHRYSOCHOOS (1978), Ph.D., professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Toledo, Ohio, writes: "Following my retirement at the end of 2003 after 40 years in academia, I decided to pursue some other interests I never had the time for while in academia. In addition to indulging myself in reading such subjects as cosmology, astronomy and theoretical physics, I also began writing literature, a very old passion of mine. My first book was published nearly a year ago by RoseDog Books, a non-fiction book titled "Beyond the Blue Ikarian Sea." It is available both online and at select bookstore chains, including www.Amazon.com; www.RoseDogBookstore.com; www.RoseDogBooks.com; www.Target.com; Borders Booksellers etc. My second book has just been published. It is a novel called "Elusive Dreams." It deals primarily with public education in the United States. It is also available online and at select bookstore chains. Contact John at: JCHRYSO@UTNET.UTOLEDO.EDU.
Life member JOHN H. WEISBURGER (1948) of White Plains, New York, is a retired U.S. Public Health Service Officer. "With my service as a member of the U.S. Army in WWII (Italy, then Occupation Army in Austria), I have a total of 26 years of service. When I returned from Vienna in 1956, I resumed my studies in science at the University of Cincinnati. I earned a B.S. degree in 1947, an M.S. degree in 1948 and a Ph.D. degree in 1949. Through my major professor, F. E. RAY, I served as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, where we developed research on the mechanisms of cancer causation. There I became a member of the U.S. Public Health Officer Corps in 1951, and I have been a member ever since that time. In 1972, ERNST L. WYNDER asked me to leave the NCI and become the director of research of the American Health Foundation, dedicated to the analysis of the causes of the premature killing diseases, such as coronary heart diseases, stroke and many types of cancer. These studies were designed to provide data for the prevention of these chronic diseases. One of our groups determined that smoking was dangerous. Many of us worked on the mechanisms whereby nutritional habits could cause diseases. I developed, as part of that effort, knowledge whereby tea-drinking served as a health-promoting element. Myself, I drink eight cups of green tea per day. That, combined with my good nutritional habits, got me to age 87 in good health. I almost forgot. I was recognized with an M.D. degree, honoris causa, by the University of Umea, Sweden."
For more news items about Sigma Xi members, visit: http://sigmaxi.org/about/news/mitn.shtml
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Member Commentary:
SOLAR POWERED SCHOOLS FOR THE NICARAGUIAN LITERACY PROGRAM
RICHARD KOMP (1965) is the author of "Practical Photovoltaics" and has been working on solar cells since 1960. He has taught numerous courses and workshops on solar energy all over the world. He is president of the Maine Solar Energy Association. He started to work in Nicaragua back in 1997 when the Grupo Fenix asked him if it was possible to build photovoltaic (PV) modules as a cottage industry in developing countries. He said "yes" and started a little company called Suni Solar, which now has grown to be the biggest dealer making and installing PV systems in Nicaragua. He is still active in the Suni Solar as secretary/treasurer and member of the board of directors, but his normal job during his two-month stay each year in Nicaragua is teaching short courses on solar energy at the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería in Managua.
"The new Sandinista government in Nicaragua has restarted the literacy program that they had been running until the Contra War put a stop to that work, as well as many of the other social programs instituted after the revolution in 1979. The plan of the Ministry of Education is to bring the literacy rate from the current 70% up to over 95% in the next few years. Since the Nicaraguan campesinos (peasants) work all day, the literacy classes have to take place in the evening. Most of the rural schools in the country are miles from the utility grid (as are most of the houses in the countryside) so part of the program is to put solar powered lights in every school that is off the grid, 924 in all.
"With financial help from the Dutch government, the $750,000 project of solar powering every rural school in the country is now underway, and Suni Solar, the commercial arm of the Nicaraguan Grupo Fenix I work with, has received the contract to do the installations of almost 1,000 small 100 watt photovoltaic systems in the schools (some get more than one system). This is a massive undertaking for such a small group, but we are dealing with it like a military campaign. The Ministry of Education official in charge of the program meets periodically with Rodolfo and Douglas, the two heads of Suni Solar, and they lay maps out on a large table, planning the routes of the eight teams that are now out in the countryside.
"These teams are installing about three systems each per day, and the logistics of supplying all the PV modules, batteries, control panels, wiring, compact fluorescent lights, etc. is quite a challenge. The living room of my little apartment upstairs from the Suni headquarters in our barrio is packed with control panel kits, and just about every day a truck leaves loaded with materials to take to teams wherever they are at the end of that day. The teams of four people normally camp out in the last school they worked in that day, and my other bedroom was filled with surplus sleeping bags left over from the Contra War.( I noticed that the U.S. army sleeping bags were better quality than the Soviet ones).
"After the first month, the easier to get to schools are all finished and now the interesting work is beginning. One team is going down the Rio San Juan that is (more or less still in debate) the boundary between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. They are carrying enough materials to install systems in 60 schools on the way to Greytown (San Juan del Norte) on the Caribbean Coast. After El Castillo, the road completely disappears so they did the rest of the trip floating downstream in a boat to get to the remaining 20 or so schools. They are going up small tributaries in dugout canoes in an area of rainforest completely without roads. Other teams are working in the rugged mountains and carrying kits of solar parts and equipment on burros and horses, or in oxcarts. Several of the teams are carrying cameras, and I hope to have photographs for a longer story later on. The Miskito Coast area is going to be another challenge to get around in, mostly by sailboat and dugout canoe; but I have already seen the Cuban textbooks prepared specifically for the Miskito language that were used back in the early '80s and will be put to use again.
"There is also a new monument in the little park right next our barrio which commemorates the "Heroes and Martyrs of the Literacy Program." During the war here, the Contras specifically targeted the group of young teenaged high school students who went out into the countryside to teach the campesinos how to read and write (using the textbooks developed for Nicaragua by the Cuban government). Banana republic dictators don't like their people too educated or literate; and the names of the 58 martyrs, 19 of them high school girls are listed on the monument.
"However, there are some happier stories that came out of this effort. When we were visiting small remote villages installing community PV systems, I met several women who went to the village as student-teachers and fell in love with one of the students they were teaching. Some of them are grandmothers by now, still living happily in their adopted villages.
"Maybe this new literacy program will have such long-lasting results, as well as finishing the job of education that was interrupted so many years ago."
Richard Komp, Ph.D.
President, Maine Solar Energy Association
17 Rockwell Rd SE, Jonesport ME 04649
207-497-2204 or sunwatt@juno.com
http://www.mainesolar.org or http://www.skyheat.org
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SIGMA XI AFFINITY PROGRAMS
Your Society offers a number of affinity programs that include stimulating opportunities for travel and reduced rates on auto insurance and car rentals, among other benefits. For more information, visit: http://www.sigmaxi.org/member/membersonly/index.shtml
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AUTOMATIC ANNUAL DUES RENEWAL
Many Sigma Xi members are opting for the convenience of automatic membership renewal. You can now have your annual dues paid automatically every year via credit card or bank draft. An e-mail notification of the dues deduction will be sent to you after your credit card or bank account has been charged. For more information, visit: http://www.sigmaxi.org/member/dues/autopay.shtml
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WHAT'S YOUR NEWS?
Let us hear from you! We always welcome your contributions to our eBlasts. development@sigmaxi.org
Interim Editor: Charles Blackburn
cblackburn@sigmaxi.org
919-547-5212, or 800-243-6534, ext. 212
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
PO Box 13975
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
www.sigmaxi.org
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