November 11, 2020
Walter E. Massey was presented with the Gold Key Award on November 7. He was joined by Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne and NPR Science Correspondent Joe Palca.
Media Contact:
Amia’ Butler
Manager of Communications
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society
abutler@sigmaxi.org
Sigma Xi members, researchers, artists, and students came together virtually November 5–8 for the 2020 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference. The theme of this year’s meeting was Hacking the Brain: The Intersection Between Art and Neuroscience. The conference was attended by over 800 research professionals, students, and exhibitors.
The event began with a business meeting for delegates, who represented Sigma Xi chapters and the Membership-at-Large constituency. The 134-year-old honor society for scientists and engineers has chapters around the world at colleges, universities, government laboratories, industry research centers, and areas that cover multiple institutions. Sigma Xi leaders and president-elect candidates provided updates and discussed business of the Society. Chapter awards recipients for 2019-2020 were announced at the Assembly of Delegates.
Plenary speakers included Sigma Xi’s 2020 Gold Key award winner Walter E. Massey, who reflected on his career and addressed social justice and diversity in STEM. His remarks were followed by a discussion with Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne and NPR Science Correspondent Joe Palca. Additional plenary speakers included all but one of Sigma Xi’s 2020 award winners.
Keynote sessions included Dick and Lydia Todd Professor of Cognitive Science at Johns Hopkins University Barbara Landau who discussed “When an Amnesic Artist Remembers”, Rachael Cusick who discussed “Radiolab Presents: G,” Radiolab's 2019 documentary series on intelligence that had her diving into the search for genius, University of Pennsylvania’s Anjan Chatterjee who argued that our brains respond automatically to our aesthetic environment and Larry S. Sherman, Oregon Health & Science University, who discussed why “Every Brain Needs Music.”
Breakout sessions included talks, panel discussions, and workshops across six conference tracks. The conference entertainment was provided by world-renowned Science Rapper Baba Brinkman, who performed a series of freestyle rap sets and ‘rap ups’ that summarized events throughout the day. .
Approximately 400 high school, undergraduate, and graduate students attended the meeting and presented their research during the Student Research Conference. Sigma Xi members judged the students on their scientific thought, method, and communication skills. Judges selected top presenters for awards including a $150.00 monetary gift and nomination to Sigma Xi membership, with the initiation fee and first year’s dues paid.
Top student presenters in the Sigma Xi Virtual Student Research Conference
Top Student Presenters in the 2020 Student Research Conference
High School Division Awards for Poster Presentations
Agricultural, Soil and Natural Resources
Rachel Mammen, Plano West Senior High School
Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Abdul Jalil-Dania, American Heritage School Plantation
Chemistry
Anjali Vadlamudi, American Heritage School Boca Delray
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Sreeram Satish, Sai Manikonda, William P. Clements High School, John F. Dulles High School
Engineering
Jennifer Lew, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
Environmental Sciences
Falecie Wang, Palo Alto Senior High School
Geosciences
Brian Chen, The Harker School
Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
Mandy Feuerman, American Heritage School Boca Delray
Interdisciplinary Research
Akshra Paimagam, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Math and Computer Science
Siya Goel, West Lafayette Jr. Sr. High School
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Mary Gabrielle, Pine Crest School
Physics and Astronomy
Francicso Catanzaro, Cathedral Catholic High School
Physiology and Immunology
Jordan Umlas, Miami Beach Senior High
Undergraduate Division Awards
Agricultural, Soil and Natural Resources
Joseph Lance Casila, University of Guam
Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Kelsey Salcido, University of California, Irvine
Chemistry
Joe Gonzales, University of California, Irvine
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Tie)
Griffin Bray, University of Michigan-Dearborn
JoAnne Villagrana, University of California, Irvine
Engineering
Radhika Bhuckory, University of Southern California
Environmental Sciences (Tie)
Alyza Roman, University of California, Irvine
Sonja Michaluk, Carnegie Mellon University
Geosciences
Emma Casale, Quinnipiac University
Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
Aaron Cecil-Xavier, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Interdisciplinary Research
MaryBrigid McManus, Molloy College
Math and Computer Science
Bikrant Das Sharma, Rice University
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Brian Best, Northeastern University
Physics and Astronomy
Anne Williams, Elon University
Physiology and Immunology
Leslie Vazquez, Jr., University of California, Irvine
Graduate Division Awards
Agriculture, Soil, and Natural Resources
Debit Datta, Auburn University
Anthropology
Charlotte Till, University of Arizona
Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Suraj Timilsina, Oakland University
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Tie)
Kris Budd, University of Missouri
Gladys Mondragon, University of Minnesota
Engineering
Richard Hollenbach III, Duke University
Environmental Sciences
Parisa Ebrahimbabaie, Ball State University
Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
Kennedy Anderson, Texas State University
Interdisciplinary Research
Khrystyna Shchubelka, Oakland University
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Victoria Oladosu, Binghamton University, State University of New York
Physiology and Immunology
Madison Honer, Saint Joseph's University
Awards for Top Oral Presentations
High School Division
Jessie Gan, San Diego Jewish Academy
Honorable Mention High School Division
Fiona Luo, Monta Vista High School
Kieran Dunn, Boston College High School
Undergraduate Division
Mohammad Elahi, University of Texas at Dallas
Honorable Mention Undergraduate Division
Phuc (Jerry) Ngo, Beloit College
Graduate Division (Tie)
Tendai Mafireyi, Portland State University
Matthew Kocher, Virginia Tech
Student Choice Award
First place
Rupali Batta, Notre Dame High School
Second place
Savanah Lares, American Heritage School Plantation
Save the date for the 2021 Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference on November 4-7 in Niagara Falls, New York.