December 2008
Sigma Xi Student Member Newsletter
Welcome to your Student 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
AWARDS PRESENTED AT 2008 STUDENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE
From more than 230 posters presented at the 2008 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference in Washington, D.C., 34 student poster presenters were recognized with both medals and cash awards. The Society also awarded certificates and cash prizes to the top three finalists of its inaugural Student Short Film Competition. http://sigmaxi.org/about/news/2008SRCMedals.shtml
Back to top
"LOWERING BARRIERS IN CHEMISTY" SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Center for Enabling New Technologies Through Catalysis (CENTC) is a team of chemists and chemical engineers from 16 research laboratories on 12 different North American campuses. The CENTC summer research program for undergraduates provides enhanced training, discovery and housing. Continuation of research project during the academic year may be possible. Additional funding to present results at a professional conference is also available. See link for details. E-mail: centcdeo@chem.washington.edu
Back to top
SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The SURF program at the University of Miami offers research fellowships in partnership with the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the Diabetes Research Institute, the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the Sylvester Cancer Center, the Miami Institute for Human Genomics, and the Center for Computational Sciences. It introduces students to the type of projects encountered during postgraduate research training and leads to an understanding of the planning, discipline, and teamwork involved in the pursuit of answers to current questions in the biomedical sciences. See link for details. Application form online. No application fee.
Back to top
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI PROGRAM IN BIOMDICAL SCIENCES
The Program in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Miami recruits and admits students for the Ph.D. programs in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Microbiology & Immunology, Molecular Cell & Developmental Biology, Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Physiology & Biophysics, and our new program in Human Genetics & Genomics. Students experience a common first-year curriculum, perform laboratory rotations and take part in a new learning experience in which they will meet in small groups with individual faculty members. The students will formally enter the individual graduate programs (and choose mentors) at the end of the first year. Application form online. Application fee waived or Sigma Xi attendees. Interested students can e-mail Sean Kennelly at SKennelly@med.miami.edu to have their application fee waived.
Back to top
JOSEPH WHITTAKER ELECTED PRESIDENT OF SIGMA XI
JOSEPH A. WHITTAKER (1988) was elected the 73rd president of Sigma Xi at the Society's 2008 Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference in Washington, D.C. He will serve as president-elect beginning July 1, 2009. A Sigma Xi member since 1988, Whittaker is dean and professor of biology in the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he oversees more than 100 faculty members involved in research, training and educational activities in five academic departments.
Back to top
SIGMA XI VISITING SCHOLAR COMPLETES NSF WORKSHOP REPORT
The goal of the Sigma Xi-National Science Foundation workshop was to help identify the unique contributions that international collaborations make in promoting excellence in scientific and engineering research and to use that information to develop monitoring and evaluation criteria for NSF programs. The final report is available in a PDF format through the link above. http://www.sigmaxi.org/programs/global/FollowupReportFinal.pdf
Back to top
MATHEMATICIAN RECEIVES SIGMA XI YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
MASON A. PORTER (1997) says his interest in mathematics initially arose largely from what he considered visually appealing. He received Sigma Xi's 2008 Young Investigator Award at the Society's Annual Meeting. His research in nonlinear science and complex systems includes classical and quantum chaos, billiard systems, nonlinear waves, Bose-Einstein condensation, granular media and social networks.
Back to top
ANGIER, BOEHLERT ELECTED HONORARY SIGMA XI MEMBERS
Also at the Annual Meeting, New York Times science writer and author NATALIE ANGIER and former Congressman SHERWOOD "SHERRY" BOEHLERT were inducted as Sigma Xi's newest honorary members. The honor is bestowed for service to science or Sigma Xi. Angier is an author and Pulitzer Prize-winning science columnist for the New York Times. Her latest book is The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science (Houghton Mifflin, 2007), a guide to the fundamental concepts of modern science that researchers wish everybody understood about their work. Audubon New York called Boehlert "one of the greatest conservation leaders ever to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives." He served from 1982 to 2006 and chaired the House Science Committee. Congressional Quarterly named him one of the 50 Most Effective Lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Back to top
IOWA STATE CHEMIST WINS 2008 MONIE FERST AWARD
Chemist JOHN D. CORBETT (1949) at Iowa State University received the 2008 Monie A. Ferst Award from the Georgia Institute of Technology Chapter. A symposium was held in October at Georgia Tech in his honor, focusing on the research accomplishments of his many former students, five of whom were speakers. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Corbett has been a staff researcher at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Ames Laboratory and a faculty member in Iowa State's chemistry department since 1952.
Back to top
PRI's 'THE WORLD' AWARDED MAJOR NSF GRANT
In partnership with Sigma Xi, Public Radio International (PRI) will use a major National Science Foundation grant to support the creation of science content for its "The World" radio show, plus a new Virtual Science Café and an interactive Web site. PRI's "The World" is a one-hour, weekday multi-platform global news program hosted by Lisa Mullins. Having premiered in April 1996, it is now broadcast on-air and streamed online by 250 PRI affiliate stations, broadcasts that are heard by 2.3 million listeners nationwide. http://sigmaxi.org/about/news/2008PRI.shtml
Back to top
PETE CONRAD SPIRIT AWARD OPPORTUNITY
The Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards, which challenge high school students to design products using science and technology, are offering two new resources for its competitors.
Back to top
SIGMA XI MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
DOUGLAS A. ROSS (1995) has been named chairperson of the department of surgery and clinical vice president of the surgical service line at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
MARSHA ANN DOWELL (2003) has been named senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of South Carolina Upstate.
THEODORE ROCKWELL (1944) of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was honored twice this fall for his contributions to technology and to literature. On September 4, in London, the World Nuclear Association (WNA) gave him a Pioneer's Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Peaceful Worldwide Use of Nuclear Energy. Former Ambassador John Ritch, WNA director general, praised Rockwell's "immensely valuable role in building the foundations and future of nuclear power." In October it was announced that Rockwell's book, "The Virtual Librarian: A Tale of Alternative Realities," was chosen as an award-winning finalist in the Visionary Fiction category of the National Best Books 2008 Awards sponsored by USA Book News. And on November 8, Rockwell was one of four panelists discussing the history and legacy of the Manhattan Project's wartime program to build an atomic bomb, prior to a performance of the opera "Dr. Atomic," at the venerable Metropolitan Opera. For more information, visit: http://members.authorsguild.net/tedrockwell/index.htm
DEAN HO (2004) in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University has been named editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation.
R. SAMUEL BATY (1971) has written a World War II historical thriller titled "Footsteps to Forever" that has just been published by iuniverse. Footsteps is a story filled with suspense, romance and danger. In 1941, two American lieutenants, a young man and woman, are sent by President Roosevelt to Norway to rescue a renowned atomic physicist from behind German lines. An engineer by profession, Baty is a retired U. S. Air Force officer and a retired chief scientist. He lives in Albuquerque with his wife, Linda. Visit: http://www.sambatybooks.com/
For more news items about Sigma Xi members, visit: http://sigmaxi.org/about/news/mitn.shtml
Back to top
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
Back to top
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
Back to top
GIVING TO SIGMA XI IN 2008
In October you should have received an invitation to support the Society's annual fund campaign. In that letter, new Sigma Xi Executive Director JERRY BAKER outlined a simple plan to make Sigma Xi stronger. If you have not received your letter, please let us know at development@sigmaxi.org. And if you have not yet made your donation, you are invited to do so online at: https://www.sigmaxi.org/about/support/contform.html.
Back to top
SPARKS DOCUMENT UPDATED
We've updated the "Sparks" collection of members' anecdotes about what initially sparked their interest in science or engineering. We plan to share these stories and perhaps create some new sparks for the next generation of researchers. Here is the latest version:
http://www.sigmaxi.org/member/newsletters/spark-ver4.pdf
Back to top
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
P.S. Want to reactivate your lapsed membership? Click here
P.P.S. If you don't wish to receive this eBlast from Sigma Xi, please e-mail us back and let us know.
Back to top | Privacy Policy | Copyright ©2013. All Rights Reserved.
