Linda F. Marchant

2026 Sigma Xi Fellow

Statement

"It was a useful and revealing exercise when asked about my thoughts regarding Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society. Typically, when I consider Sigma Xi, two responses come to mind – first, what will I read when I receive my copy of American Scientist? Often, I go straight to Scientists’ Nightstand to consider the marvelous new books authored by my fellow scientists. I feel immense gratitude for the breadth of the scientific enterprise and American Scientist keeps me on my “scientific toes” as I work my way through the feature articles. 

The second response that Sigma Xi evokes is to remind me of the critical work the Society does in fostering the research and careers of budding scientists, from high schoolers to established researchers. It is so heartening to read the FACES of GIAR – Grants in Aid of Research. The grants represent validation for these students and are an important first step in seeking grant support. That is why I routinely donate to Sigma Xi’s appeal to support research funding."

Biography

Linda F. Marchant is Professor Emerita in the Department of Anthropology at Miami University (Ohio). She served for ten years as the Department Chair and was the founding chair of that department. Her research interests include behavioral primatology, laterality of function (handedness), African apes, and visual anthropology. She is the author of more than 70 book chapters and journal articles, coeditor of an invited special issue of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (2013) “The Evolution of Human Handedness”, and coeditor of Behavioural Diversity in Chimpanzees and Bonobos (Cambridge University Press, 2002) and Great Ape Societies (Cambridge University Press, 1996).  She is the author of 10 video programs based on African ape field work including, “Chimpanzee Grooming as Social Custom, Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania”, the 2000 recipient of the Best Short Film, Society for Visual Anthropology, American Anthropological Association. She has conducted field research on wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in: Gombe National Park, Tanzania, Mahale National Park, Tanzania, Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Uganda; and field research on wild bonobos (Pan paniscus) in Lui Kotal, Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She has been a Visiting Research Fellow, Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, University of St. Andrews (2001); Visiting Fellow, Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Anthropology, Research Associate, Darwin College, University of Cambridge (2009-2010); and Visiting Scholar, Department of Anthropology, University of California-San Diego and Visiting Professor, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), UC-San Diego, January-June, 2013.