Welcome to the Texas A&M University Chapter of Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Honor Society, chartered July 1, 1951. Our mission is to recognize, encourage, and promote scientific research at Texas A&M and to honor the community of science scholars.
Sigma Xi is an international, chapter-based organization dedicated to nurturing the research enterprise in all fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Unique among scientific honor societies, Sigma Xi has a broad outlook that scans the spectrum of science and technology and is committed to the core values that unite across disciplinary boundaries. With 125 years of maturity, Sigma Xi has enhanced the health of the research enterprise, fostered integrity in science and engineering, and communicated the public’s understanding of science. Notable accomplishments of Sigma Xi include discussions of ethical issues of research in two booklets, Honor in Science (1984) and The Responsible Researcher: Paths and Pitfalls (1999). Texas A&M is one of the over 500 chapters, and in recent years has received several “Chapters of Excellence Awards” and “Outstanding Program Awards.”
The Texas A&M Chapter of Sigma Xi was instrumental in creating the Texas A&M Office of Undergraduate Research, and it is currently working to create a similar centralized office to support and coordinate educational outreach and partnerships.
Research faculty at Texas A&M are encouraged to engage with the Chapter to improve public and governmental appreciation for the value of university research, to enrich the research environment, and to enhance the success of research faculty.
Routine activities of the local chapter include:
- Annual symposium on an interdisciplinary research theme
- Operation of a Committee for Educational Outreach and Partnerships
- Annual selection of a Texas A&M researcher for a Outstanding Distinguished Scientist Award
- Sponsorship of the Distinguished Scientist Lecture
- Annual selection of an Outstanding Science Communicator Award
- Annual awards for Outstanding Science Teachers
To promote research at Texas A&M, Sigma Xi, in collaboration with the Honors and Undergraduate Research Office, sponsors an Undergraduate Student-Faculty Expo to inform undergraduates interested in research opportunities in laboratories of A&M faculty and enhance research discussion and interaction with faculty and students. Application forms for activating membership can be found at the national society’s website. For Information on opportunities for local participation, contact the chapter’s executive director, Dr. John Ford.