Marc Seigar

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University of Toledo

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Sigma Xi’s commitment to advancing STEM education and promoting scientific leadership and influence is close to my heart as a dean in a college of sciences at a major research university. The community of STEM professionals and educators that Sigma Xi brings together is at the forefront of this core mission. The mission drives us to learn about fields outside of our own in a way that promotes interdisciplinary studies and research, without which we cannot begin to solve the major issues we face as a society. This is becoming more important as we educate the STEM workforce of the future.

To me, being an advocate for science is central to my role as a leader in higher education. Just recently, I had the chance to meet with a U.S. Senator to talk about environmental issues affecting the Great Lakes. Together with researchers from our Lake Erie Research Center, we took the U.S. Senator on one of our research vessels out onto Lake Erie. He got to see the August algal bloom in western Lake Erie and the Toledo water intake. However, it is much more than this. As a dean in a science college, I oversee research in environmental research, sustainable energy production, and human disease. We know that we are in an era where humans are having an unsustainable impact on our environment, which has impacted how we produce energy, and impacts human health, not just through heat-related illness, but also through the emergence of new diseases as our cities encroach on the natural habitats around them.

As Associate Director for the North Central Region, I would work in collaboration with the Director to develop strategies in multiple areas related to Sigma Xi’s mission and the strategic plan. I am particularly committed to educating, not just the next generations of scientists, but also the public about scientific issues that we face. In an era where misinformation is commonplace, we need to develop new strategies for teaching all our college students (not just the STEM students) how scientific advancement works. This will take innovation in education in both the K-12 and college settings. This is also related to promoting scientific leadership and influence, as we will need to develop leaders who are capable of advocating for the changes we need in science education and scientific support. In summary, as an Associate Director, I believe I can further add to Sigma Xi’s mission by promoting ideas to support science education, research, and leadership that will support the organizations strategic plan and grow our STEM workforce in areas that will be needed to solve the environmental challenges we face as a society.

Marc Seigar

Chapter Affiliation

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