Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society ()

( ) is an international non-profit honor society for scientists and engineers. Sigma Xi was founded at Cornell University by a faculty member and graduate students in 1886 and is one of the oldest honor societies. Membership in Sigma Xi is by invitation only, where members nominate others on the basis of their research achievements or potential. The society was a founding member of the Association of College Honor Societies in 1925, but withdrew in 1933 and, much later, helped form the Honor Society Caucus.

History

Sigma Xi was founded in November 1886 at the Sibley College of Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders were Henry Shaler Williams, a Cornell faculty member, junior faculty Frank Van Vleck, and engineering graduate students John J. Berger, William A. Day, John Knickerbacker, William A. Mosscrop, William H. Riley, William N. Sanderson, Henry E. Smith, and Charles B. Wing. Their goal was to created a scientific society comparable to Phi Beta Kappa. Its participation was short lived, with the decision to withdraw and operate again as an independent society made just over a decade later, effective in . By 1950, the society's membership numbered 42,000.

Sigma Xi and RESA combined on January 1, 1974, under the name Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Sigma Xi has nearly 60,000 members who were elected to membership based on their research achievements and potential. The society's headquarters is in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.</blockquote>The Sigma Xi badge is a watch chain pendant consisting of a monogram of the Greek letters .

Membership

Membership in Sigma Xi is by invitation only, where members nominate others on the basis of their research achievements or potential. The society's membership consists of faculty and staff who have contributed to noteworthy research in a scientific field, undergraduate students who have excellence in the study of science, and graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in applied or pure science fields. It also sponsors a variety of programs and lectures supporting ethics in research, science and engineering education, the public understanding of science, international research cooperation and the overall health of the research enterprise.

William Procter Prizes

thumb|William Procter Prize awarded to [[Rita R. Colwell|Rita Colwell by Sigma Xi]]

The William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement is an award presented by Sigma Xi. This prestigious prize is given to a scientist who has made an outstanding contribution to scientific research and has demonstrated an ability to communicate the significance of this research to scientists in other disciplines.

The prize was established in 1950 in honor of William Procter, a distinguished business leader and philanthropist who had a strong commitment to scientific research and development. Procter was an heir to the Procter & Gamble Company and served as its president and chairman.

Recipients of the William Procter Prize are recognized for their achievements in both research and communication, reflecting the dual emphasis of Sigma Xi on promoting both scientific excellence and interdisciplinary communication. Along with the recognition, the awardee also delivers a lecture at the society's annual meeting or another appropriate occasion.

Over the years, the William Procter Prize has been awarded to many notable scientists from a wide range of disciplines, underscoring the prize's commitment to honoring and promoting interdisciplinary research.

Chapters

As of May 4, 2023, it has chartered more than 550 chapters, with 350 active chapters in the United States and over 20 chapters in other countries.

See also

  • Honor cords
  • Honor society
  • Professional fraternities and sororities

References

  • Guide to the Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society Records 1928-2003