December 12, 2014
Sigma Xi members and students gathered in Glendale, Arizona, November 6–9 for the Society’s Annual Meeting and International Research Conference.
In addition to undertaking governance tasks for the 115th Assembly of Delegates, participants attended sessions on chapter best practices and effective science communication, and were treated to research presentations from this year’s award winners. They also attended two debates about critical issues in water and food. These debates were demonstrations of events Sigma Xi will co-host in 2015 with the Institute on Science for Global Policy to promote the public’s understanding of science.
More than 100 high school, undergraduate, and graduate students came from across the country, as well as from other countries, to present posters about their research in the International Research Conference. Sigma Xi members judged the students’ posters and ranked 24 as Superior presenters. These students were awarded medals and received an offer of having their initiation fee and first year’s dues paid if they accepted an invitation to join Sigma Xi. Nominations for Sigma Xi membership were extended to 93 students who qualified.
The 2015 meeting will be held October 22–25 in Kansas City, Missouri.
From left: William Procter Prize Grant-in-Aid of Research recipient Amy Katz, William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement winner Jenny Glusker, and Young Investigator Award winner Thomas H. Epps III at the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting.
Top student presenters in the International Research Conference received medals.
Members of the Columbia-Willamette Chapter presented a chapter poster.
Rachel Merz, vice president of the Swarthmore College Chapter, talks with other chapter leaders during a workshop about keeping members engaged.
Sigma Xi President George Atkinson moderated debates on water and food.
Honorary Member Derek Muller, second from right, is host of the YouTube channel Veritasium.
Photos by Cristina Gouin-Paul, Katie-Leigh Corder, and Heather Thorstensen.
See the full photo album on Flickr.
This article was published in the Sigma Xi Today section of the January-February 2015 issue of American Scientist.