Sigma Xi (Natural Sciences)

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, is nonprofit membership society of approximately 60,000 scientists and engineers who were elected to the Society because of their research achievements or potential. Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi has more than 500 chapters at universities and colleges, government laboratories and industry research centers.

In addition to publishing American Scientist magazine, Sigma Xi awards grants annually to promising young researchers, holds forums on critical issues at the intersection of science and society, and sponsors a variety of programs supporting honor in science and engineering, science education, science policy and the public understanding of science.

Membership Qualifications

Sigma Xi is a national honor society of scientists and engineers who are elected to the society because of their achievements or potential in research. We have 5 to 10 students and faculty who are elected each year from Ithaca College.

The national criteria for associate membership is:

• Research aptitude specified for election in pure or applied science must be evidenced by independent investigation ordinarily resulting in a written report membership is offered to encourage young investigators with promise to continue careers in research. In making the nomination, the nominator must attest to the nominee’s potential for future promotion to Member.

The local committee has interpreted this to mean:

• Either authorship/co-authorship of a publication in a recognized scientific journal, OR
• Presentation of a paper at a recognized scientific conference (e.g., ECSC, regional discipline meetings, NCUR, Sigma Xi conference)
• Clear intention of going further in a research environment, e.g. graduate school.
• At least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. (In the event of nomination of a non-senior, ordinarily an overall GPA of 3.3 and a science GPA of 3.5 are required). Faculty nominators should submit the student’s GPA along with the nomination form.

Exceptions to the criteria noted above will be considered. In such case, the membership committee expects the nominating faculty member to present a strong case on the student’s behalf.

Nominators should fill out and return the nomination form and enclose a letter describing the qualifications of the nominee. If the nominator is not a current member of Sigma Xi, please coordinate with a current full member. The membership committee will evaluate the nominations and report back to the nominator. If so desired, the nomination can remain confidential.

Student Conference Travel Fund

As you make plans for that great conference this fall or spring please remember that Sigma Xi has travel funds available for students to attend and present papers or posters.

One mission of Sigma Xi national honor society is to foster and recognize undergraduate scientific research. The IC chapter has funds available to help pay travel expenses for students to attend conferences to present their work. The intention is to support students' attendance at conferences in their fields although attendance at more general conferences will be considered as well.

Applications should be sent on paper to Bruce Thompson (physics) and should consist of an application letter from the student and a letter of support from a mentor. The student letter should have a description of the conference to be attended, the type of presentation (oral or poster), an abstract and the amount of travel funds being requested.

The faculty mentor should provide evidence of the students' ability to represent themselves, their work, their department and the College at these events. Normally such evidence will include previous presentation of the students' research/scholarly activities at an off campus event or meeting, such as ECSC, however, that is not a requirement. Also, please indicate what other sources of travel funds if any you have available to supplement the award. The committee will consider award requests of up to $500.