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July August 2011 · Volume 20, Number 4

New Program to From the President Boost Membership

igma Xi’s new Member-Get-A-Member Dear Colleagues and Companions in Zealous Research program gives all active It is indeed an honor for me to have been elected president of our Smembers a chance to earn a free year international for scientists and engineers. Sigma Xi of membership by was created 125 years ago with high ideals, a worthy mission and recommending five an inspiring vision that remain critical to and engineering in the 21st Century. new members during As incoming president, I will seek to further the mission of Sigma Xi. a one-year period. Public confidence in the fundamental truths derived from application of science is Active Sigma Xi members should perhaps more critical now than at any time in the history of our honor society. From recommend their qualified friends, students, openness in research to accuracy in conducting and reporting research to integrity in colleagues and fellow scientists and engineers the peer review process and authorship, we have an obligation to our members and the to the honor of Sigma Xi membership. Any public to focus on these issues. active Sigma Xi member who recommends I applaud my friend and colleague, our immediate past-president, Joe Whitaker. Dr. five new members who are then approved Whitaker deserves our gratitude for providing outstanding leadership and initiating for membership between now and June 30, a new hope for the evolution of our esteemed honor society. My intention will be to 2012 will receive one free year of Sigma Xi build upon the spark Joe ignited during his tenure, and implement an enabling strategy membership. focused on substance and action that will propel us forward. My unbridled passion will Potential new members must list their be to do all I can to advance Sigma Xi to a new level of international prominence and Sigma Xi recommender on the “Recommended recognition as the international honor society. by” line at the bottom of their nomination The Framework for Action that I presented a year ago for actions needed to enable forms. A “Recommended by” line has also long-term growth and achievements consistent with our Society’s mission and vision been added to the online nomination form at are as follows: www.sigmaxi.org. The recommender’s name must be included on the nomination form to Pro-Active Engagement with Global Issues - Sigma Xi must become more pro-active in reaching out to international organizations and partnering with them to develop receive credit for the recommendation. policies and programs that address global problems such as: sustainable , , The following stipulations apply to the natural resource management, climate change, etc. Member-Get-A-Member program: The program is open to all active (dues- Evolution of American Scientist Magazine - The greatest visible product of Sigma Xi paid) Sigma Xi members, regardless of must evolve, and it must be viewed as globally inclusive and more clearly reflect the whether they are full or associate, student, vision of the Society. transitional, emeritus, or regular, or whether Realignment of Sigma Xi Regions - Current regional organizational structure of Sigma they belong to a chapter or are an at-large Xi should be redefined as world regions. Initially, there could be 9 regions: 6 U.S. member. The recommender does not have regions, 1 Canada region, 1 Region, and 1 Global Region-at-Large (to include to be a nominator but can be one of the any individual or chapter not in a currently qualified defined region). nominators. However, each new member Annual Meeting and Research Conference Transition - Our Annual Meeting format can only be recommended by one Sigma Xi and venues should be revised such that the current Annual Meeting would be held on a member, so both nominators can not get biennial basis and be referred to as the Global Meeting. In alternate years, only regional credit for one individual. meetings will be held. The venues and formats for the individual regional meetings would All five new members must be approved, be determined by the regions themselves. processed and paid during the same fiscal year It is time for us to focus on our core values of fostering cooperation among scientists (July 1–June 30) to count toward the program. and engineers, promoting honor, integrity and honesty in all scientific activities, and Free membership will be credited to the nurturing the next generation of zealous companions in research around the world. recommender for the next fiscal year (July 1 At a grassroots level, this evolution has already begun. –June 30) once membership for all five new Please join me in November to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Sigma Xi, The members has been processed and paid in International Scientific Research Society, when we will honor the past and look to full. If the recommender has already paid the future with a conference theme focus on fostering integrity in science. for the next fiscal year of membership, credit Michael Crosby (continued on page 352) www.sigmaxi.org 2011 July-August 347 Sigma Xi History 1961-1986

This is the fourth in a series of articles about from simply managing the national affairs important contributions to science but Sigma Xi’s history as part of our 125th and producing American Scientist to are ineligible for Sigma Xi membership as anniversary celebration. helping to build and promote the activities Honorary Members. of the local chapters. n 1974, the Scientific Research Society Recognizing that integrity in scientific of America (RESA) merged with Sigma In 1983, Sigma Xi began inducting noted research is vital to the advancement of IXi, under the name of Sigma Xi, The science advocates, top science journalists knowledge and to the maintenance of public Scientific Research Society of North and friends of research who have made confidence in science, the Society published America. A few years later, its first ethics booklet Honor the present name was in Science in 1984. adopted: Sigma Xi, The Sigma Xi Nobel Laureates Scientific Research Society. Sigma Xi’s Centennial or Medicine in 1986 provided an The merger brought the 1965 Robert B. Woodward 1963 Maria Goeppert-Mayer 1962 opportunity to address 1966 Robert S. Mulliken 1963 1962 membership to an all-time 1968 1964 Charles H. Townes 1964 Konrad Bloch issues of importance to high—along with the 1970 Luis Leloir 1965 Richard P. Feynman 1966 Charles B. Huggins science and society in the number of chapters and 1972 Christian B. Anfinsen 1965 1966 Peyton Rous decades ahead. size of our financial assets. 1972 1967 1967 Haldan K. Hartline Sigma Xi's programs 1972 William H. Stein 1968 Luis Alvarez 1967 With support from 1973 1969 Murray Gell-Mann 1968 Robert W. Holley expanded during this the National Science 1974 Paul J. Flory 1972 Leon N. Cooper 1968 Marshall W. Nirenberg Foundation, Sigma Xi period, reflecting both an 1976 1972 Robert Schrieffer 1969 Max Delbrück increase in organizational 1979 Herbert C. Brown 1972 1969 Alfred D. Hershey sought to develop “A New requirements (including 1980 1973 lvar Giaever 1969 Salvador E. Luria Agenda for Science,” a 1980 the purchase of a new 1975 Ben R. Mottelson 1970 project that identified seven 1981 1975 1971 Earl W. Sutherland, Jr. important areas for ongoing more spacious building) 1983 1976 1972 Gerald M. Edelman and in social concerns. The 1984 Bruce Merrifield 1977 Philip W. Anderson 1974 consideration: public Distinguished Lectureship, 1985 Herbert A. Hauptman 1977 John H. van Vleck 1974 George E. Palade understanding of science, Grants-in-Aid and Science- 1985 1978 Arno Penzias 1975 David science in the policy 1986 Dudley R. 1978 Robert Woodrow and-Society programs 1975 Howard M. Temin development process, Herschbach Wilson 1976 D. Carleton Gajdusek interdisciplinary research, evolved most dramatically. Economics 1979 Sheldon Glashow 1977 Andrew V. Schally 1980 1977 Rosalyn Yalow science education, the As part of this evolution, 1969 Ragnar Frisch 1972 Kenneth J. Arrow 1980 Val Fitch 1979 Allan M. Cormack international dimension, the Society’s executive 1978 Herbert A. Simon 1981 1980 George D. Snell cooperation in science and director Ian Jackson began 1981 Arthur L. Schawlow 1981 David H. Hubel Peace technology, and ethical to foster and enhance 1982 Kenneth G. Wilson 1981 Roger W. Sperry issues in research. 1962 1983 Subramanyan 1983 Barbara McClintock the Society’s confederal 1970 Chandrasekhar 1986 Stanley Cohen American Scientist, —altering the 1983 William A. Fowler 1986 Rita Levi-Montalcini function of headquarters September-October 1986 •

1964 1970 1971 1973

Michael DeBakey American Scientist Francis G. Howarth (SX 1935) is adopts a full-color, (SX 1969) discovers (SX 1962) and first to perform magazine format communities of specialized Stanley Cohen a successful cave animals living in lava (SX 1979) pioneer coronary artery tubes at Hawaii Volcanoes therapy and bypass National Park the industry

Edward Lorenz Neil Armstrong, publishes First photo­ mission discovery of the graphs of commander ‘butterfly effect’, another planet’s of Apollo 11, significant in the surface by the becomes the first development of Mariner 4 man to walk on chaos theory mission to Mars the moon 1963 1965 1969

348 New Sigma Xi Chapters •1963-1986

Central AR Univ. of WI-Oshkosh Tri-Cities WA Bangkok Thailand Univ. of CT Health Highland Rim u Southcentral PA College of Wabash Valley U.S. Naval Academy Delta Center Newark n CA State Univ.- The Holy Cross Wake Forest Univ. Univ. of MS Medical Eastern MI Univ. Univ. of Hartford Dominguez Hills un Rush Univ. ICI Americas Charlotte Center GA Southern Univ. Univ. of MA- Univ. of WI-Milwaukee Minot State Univ. un Dartmouth Marathon Clemson Univ. Univ. of PR at San Juan Hope College CA State Univ.- Murray State Univ. Mount Holyoke College of William And Univ. of Southern MS Hunter College Univ. of Richmond Bakersfield Western CT State Univ. College u Univ. of TN at Martin Mary Upper OH Valley IN Univ. Medical East Carolina Univ. IN Univ.u at South ND State Univ. Duquesne Western KY Univ. Center Univ. of WI-Green Bay Fort Hays Bend UC-Riverside Fairleigh Dickinson Western PA IN Univ. of PA Youngstown State Univ. Pace Univ. Quinnipiac Univ. of the Univ. Wilkes Univ. Medical College of OH C.W. Post College Univ. of Calgary in Philadelphia u Peoria u Greensboro AR State Univ. at Toledo City College of the Pikes Peak IN State Univ. VA Commonwealth State Univ. Baylor Univ. Monterrey, Inst. of CUNY Charleston Univ. Tech. Clarkson Univ. Sangamon State Univ. Ithaca College CO State Univ. - Univ. of WI-Eau Claire/ Northeastern OK State Wittenberg Univ. Medical College of Pueblo Naval Air Warfare DOE/NRC Univ. Air Force Dayton n u Center Training Stout GA Club Dartmouth College n East Stroudsburg Univ. Boise State Univ. Univ. of AL in American Univ. MS State Univ. Systems of PA Huntsville un Geneva Northern IL Univ. n Bowling Green State BASF Corp. MT Tech Univ. Gustavus Adolphus FDA Univ. FL A & M Univ. Central TX Rider Univ. George Mason Univ. Univ. of WI-Stevens n Roanoke College College Central Savannah River Research Society Southern IL Univ.- Lake Forest College SUNY Health Science Longwood/Hampden Area Point Crompton Corp. u Center at Sydney Colleges Louisiana State Univ. Carbondale Louisiana Tech Univ. Lehman College u Magic Valley n Tri-State Univ. MI Technological Univ. Medical Center SUC at Fredonia u Oakland Univ. NW State Univ. of LA SUC at New Paltz Univ. of Akron MS Delta Ottawa Manitoba Univ. of Central FL Omaha Univ. of Northern IA St. Bonaventure Univ. TN Technological Univ. Middle TN State Univ. Montclair State Univ. Ramapo College of NJ Sam Univ. of Bridgeport Univ. of Memphis Prairie View A & M Univ. of TX at State Univ. MN State Univ., Univ. of Miami Univ. Towson Univ. of Toronto Univ. of Houston Mankato Univ. of British u Seton Hall Univ. u Univ. of Nevada St. Joseph’s Univ. Mercy College Univ. of KS Medical Morehead State Univ. n n Columbia Univ. of MT Center NM Inst. of Mining Westchester San Joaquin Valley Univ. of Dayton Grand Valley State Wichita State Univ. Ursinus College and Tech Western IL Univ. State Univ. of West GA Univ. u u Univ. of Hawaii-Hilo IN Univ.-Purdue Univ. Bartlesville Weber State Univ. Northern MI Univ. Williams College Suffolk Univ. Univ. of South AL State Univ. u u Wright State Univ. Univ. of West FL u at Ft. Wayne West TX State Univ. Pacific Univ. Univ. of TN at Philadelphia College of Black Hills Regional Western WA Univ. Queens College York College of CUNY Center For Naval Chattanooga u Analyses Osteopathic Medicine Cincinnati Fed. Eastern KY Univ. Regis College Emmanuel College Univ. of TX at El Paso Southeast MO State Environmental Albany, NY n Drexel Univ. Eastern NM Univ. Slippery Rock Univ. Amoco Researchu Univ. CO School of Mines Eastern WA Univ- Southern IL Univ.- CA State Polytechnic FL Atlantic Univ. Center Greenbrier Valley Dubuque Spokane Edwardsville Univ. Miami Univ.-OH Calspan Corp. Northwestern PA Hamilton College Georgetown Univ. SUC at Brockport CA State Univ.- Shreveport Johnson & Johnson RI College Marshall Univ. John Deere n SUNY at Cortland Sacramento Univ. of MS Loma Linda Univ. Allegheny Univ. ofs Merrimack College Kent State Univ. Tampa Bay CA State Univ.-San Univ. of TX at Mt. Sinai School of Health Sciences Northeastern Univ. Bernardino Arlington Med. Loyola Marymount Tifton FL Inst. of Tech. Australian Orange County Univ. Univ. of Central MO VA State Univ. NIST Four Corners n McDaniel College Panama City Northern Arizona Univ. of Northern CO Academy of Natural NJ Inst. of Tech. Univ. of NC- n McMaster Univ. Sciences Picatinny OH Northern Univ. Univ. of Scranton Southern Methodist Wilmington Muskingum College Avalon Univ. SUC at Plattsburgh Oneonta Univ. of WI-La Crosse Univ. of NE at Kearney Stephen F. Austin State Santa Clara Univ. St. Cloud State Univ. CA State Univ.- Univ. of OK Health Univ. of NC-Asheville Western Carolina Univ. SW MO State Univ. Northridge Science Center Univ Sonoma State Univ. Central MO State u State Univ. of NY at David W. Taylor Univ. of Toledo TX A & M - Southern Appalachian Univ. u n RESA Chapter Commerce Oswego Environmental Kean College of NJ SUC at Buffalo CA State Univ., Research and u Disbanded u UC-Santa Barbara un Abbott Labs. Tulsa TX Christian Univ. Fullerton Tech., Inc. s Now part of Drexel Univ. of Central OK n Guelph Univ. of NV-Las Vegas Thomas Jefferson Univ. Appalachian State Univ. GM R&D Center Univ.

1975 1977 1983 1984

Victor Wouk Magnetic Sally Ride Sigma Xi (SX 1940) creates Resonance (SX 1978) becomes publishes prototypes of Imaging invented first American Honor in electric and by Raymond woman in space Science gasoline- V. Damadian electric hybrid (SX 1972) vehicles

The Altair 8800 First baby con- hobbyist micro- A high- computer using an ceived by in vitro fertilization, Louise Intel 8088 micro- Seymour Cray super-conductor processor becomes Joy Brown, is born (British scientists develops the is invented by the first “personal Cray-1, the first J. computer” Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe) supercomputer and Karl A. Muller 1975 1978 1979 1986

www.sigmaxi.org 2011 July-August 349 2011 Spirit of Innovation Award Winners Announced ongratulations Clean Energy People’s Choice Awards to the grand Cprize winners • West Philly EVX Team, West Philadelphia • Aerospace- Ouroboros, Upper St. Clair taking home the coveted High School Auto Academy, West High School, , PA title of 2011 Pete Conrad Scholars sponsored Philadelphia, PA - their Electric Very • Clean Energy- CIRPSICSR, Thomas by Lockheed Martin Corporation in April Car (EVLC) is being prepared for Jefferson High School for Science and 2011. The winning teams were: commercial market and will set the standard Technology, Alexandria, VA for efficiency with electric vehicles. Sigma Xi is the official science advisor Aerospace Exploration • Constellation Renewable Energy Award- for the annual nationwide competition, CIRPSICSR, Alexandria, VA founded on the legacy of Apollo 12 • Ouroboros, Upper St. Clair High Cyber Security Commander Pete Conrad, for which School, Pittsburgh, PA for their Sigma Xi members serve as mentors Perpetual Harvest Space Nutrition • Unisecurity, North Carolina School and judges. System that takes organic waste created of Science & Mathematics, Durham, during long duration space flight and NC - for their Med PAL smartphone The program challenges teams of high creates compost that is then used to application that works with a Bluetooth school students to create innovative grow fresh foods also serving as an air enabled heart rate monitor worn by the products using science, technology and filter for human habitation. user. MedPAL will automatically contact entrepreneurship to solve real-world 21st • NSBRI Aerospace Award- Morpheus, a call center and/or personal emergency century problems. For more information, North Carolina School of Science and contacts based on GPS coordinates visit conradawards.org. • Mathematics, Durham, NC should irregularities occur.

Sigma Xi Awards at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair igma Xi presented special awards Matthew Feddersen and Blake Marggraff “The innovation, the methodology, the for interdisciplinary research at the from Lafayette, were awarded quality of research—I am so encouraged S2011 Intel International Science and the top prize at the ISEF, a program of when I see how bright these young people Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles in Society for Science & the Public. They are. I can only be optimistic about our future May 2011. received $75,000 and the Gordon E. with these students as the next generation of Moore (SX 1953) Award, in honor of the leaders in science,” said Sigma Xi Executive The First Place Award of $2,500 went to Intel co-founder and retired chairman Director Jerome Baker. the team of Arianne Elizabeth Papa and and CEO, for developing a potentially Jane Elizabeth Smyth of Lido Beach, New In addition to the winners mentioned above, more effective and less expensive cancer York, for their project “Mussels, A Natural more than 400 finalists received awards treatment that places tin metal near a Approach to Sewer Treatment: Evaluation and prizes for their groundbreaking . tumor before radiation therapy. Geukensia Demissa as Biofilters of Local Awards included 17 “Best of Category” Bay Pollution.” This team also won an Taylor Wilson from Reno, Nevada was winners who each received a $5,000 prize. award in the Environmental category. named an Intel Foundation Young Scientist The Intel Foundation also awarded a $1,000 Award winner and received $50,000. Taylor grant to each winner’s school and the Intel The Second Place Award of $1,500 went to developed one of the lowest dose and International Science and Engineering Fair- the team of Mike Wu and Stephen Yu of San highest sensitivity interrogation systems for affiliated fair they represent. Diego, California for their project “Position countering nuclear terrorism. and Vector Detection of Blind Spot Motion This year, more than 1,500 young with Horn-Schunck Optical Flow.” The team of Pornwasu Pongtheerawan, entrepreneurs, innovators and scientists were Arada Sungkanit and Tanpitcha selected to compete in the Intel International And the Third Place Prize of $1,000 went Phongchaipaiboon from Thailand also Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s to sisters Lisa and Tess Michaels of Plano, received an Intel Foundation Young Scientist largest high school science research for a project titled “ Award. This team determined that a gelatin competition. They were selected from 443 of Longevity: Effects of Stress and found in fish scales could be successfully used affiliate fairs in 65 countries, regions and Antioxidant on the Lifespan of in modern day fish packaging—an invention territories, including for the first time , Transgenic Drosophila Melanogaster.” that could have positive, long-term effects for Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Macao This team also won an award in the the environment. SAR of the People’s Republic of China. • biomedicine category.

350 DeCusatis Named Winner of 2011 Walston Chubb Award NAS Elects 23 Sigma Xi Members wenty-three Sigma Xi members were Noel S. Hush (SX 1966), covener of the asimer DeCusatis is an IBM among the 72 new members and 18 molecular electronics group and Foundation Distinguished Engineer Tforeign associates elected this spring to Professor Emeritus of , Cbased in Poughkeepsie, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) School of Molecular and Microbial , where he currently serves in recognition of their distinguished Biosciences, University of Sydney, Australia. as an architect for network and achievements in original research. The James T. Hynes (SX 1965), professor, I/O , including extended spring election brings the total number of department of chemistry and , NAS active members to 2,113. distance connectivity. University of Colorado, Boulder. The NAS is a private organization of William L. Jorgensen (SX 1978), Sterling The Walston Chubb Award for scientists and engineers dedicated to the Professor of Chemistry, department of Innovation is designed to honor and furtherance of science and its use for the chemistry, . promote creativity among scientists and general welfare. Ching Kung (SX 1969), Vilas Professor engineers. The award carries a $4,000 It was established in 1863 by a of and Molecular Biology, honorarium and an invitation to give a congressional act of incorporation signed departments of genetics and molecular lecture at Sigma Xi’s annual meeting. by Abraham Lincoln that calls on the biology, Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Academy to act as an official adviser to the Biology, University of , Madison. DeCusatis is an IBM Master Inventor federal government, upon request, in any Leslie B. Lamport (SX 1960), principal with more than 85 patents, and the of science and technology. recipient of several industry awards, researcher, Microsoft Research, Mountain Newly elected Sigma Xi members and their View, California. including the IEEE Kiyo Tomiyasu affiliations at the time of the election are: Award, the EDN Innovator of the Lynne E. Maquat (SX 1978), J. Lowell Year Award, the Mensa Research Rebecca H. Buckley (SX 1971), J. Orbison Chair and professor of Buren Sidbury Professor of Pediatrics Foundation Copper Black Award for biochemistry and biophysics, department and professor of immunology, Duke of biochemistry and biophysics, University Creative Achievement, and the IEEE/ University. of Rochester. HKN Outstanding Young Electrical Richard L. Edwards (SX 1990), George and Engineer Award. He is co-author Ira S. Mellman (SX 1973), vice president of Orpha Gibson Chair of Earth Systems research oncology, Inc., South of more than 100 technical papers, Sciences and Distinguished McKnight San Francisco, California. book chapters, and encyclopedia University Professor, department of articles, and editor of the Handbook Piermaria J. Oddone (SX 1965), director, geology and geophysics, University of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, of Fiber Optic Data Communication , . Batavia, . (now in its 3rd edition). John J. Eppig (SX 1968), senior staff John P. Perdew (SX 1979), professor He is a member of the IBM Academy scientist and professor, Jackson Laboratory, of physics, department of physics and of Technology and co-leader of Bar Harbor, Maine. engineering physics, School of Science and the Academy study “Innovation (SX 1981), professor and Engineering, . .” DeCusatis received M.S. director, Marine Biology Laboratory, H. Vincent Poor (SX 1980), dean of and Ph.D. degrees from Rensselaer University of Copenhagen, Helsingor, engineering and applied science and Polytechnic Institute and his B.S. . Michael Henry Strater University Professor magna cum laude in the Engineering David Gabai (SX 1976), Hughes-Rogers of , Princeton Science Honors Program from the Professor of Mathematics, department of University. Pennsylvania State University. mathematics, . Geraldine L. Richmond (SX 1981), Richard Michael S. Gazzaniga (SX 1966), director, M. and Patricia H. Noyes Professor, He is a Fellow of the IEEE, Optical Sage Center for the Study of the Mind, department of chemistry, University Society of America, and SPIE (the University of California, Santa Barbara. of Oregon. international optical engineering Fred Gould (SX 1982), William Neal George H. Rieke (SX 1964), Regents society), a member of the Order Reynolds Distinguished Professor, Professor of Astronomy, and deputy of the Engineer, , Eta department of , North director, Steward Observatory, University Kappa Nu, Mensa, and various other Carolina State University. of Arizona. professional organizations and honor Donald K. Grayson (SX 1969), professor, Stephen T. Warren (SX 1977), William societies. He also serves as founder department of anthropology, University of Patterson Timmie Professor and chair, and director of Hudson Valley FIRST Washington, Seattle. department of human genetics, Emory Lego League, which offers more Keith O. Hodgson (SX 1968), David Mulvane University. than 1,000 students each year the Ersham and Edward Curtis Franklin Edward L. Wright (SX 1976), David Saxon opportunity to pursue their interest Professor of Chemistry, and associate Presidential Chair in Physics and professor, in science and technology. • director for photo science, SLAC National department of physics and astronomy, Accelerator Laboratory, . University of California, Los Angeles. • www.sigmaxi.org 2011 July-August 351 Award Nominations Supriyo Datta to Receive Due October 1 2011 Procter Prize now an outstanding scientist or engineer whom Sigma Xi should ngineer- Supriyo Datta at for spintronics focused international K honor? The Society’s prestigious Purdue University has been called attention on the field. Since the invention annual awards recognize excellence E“one of the most original thinkers in of the transistor in 1947, progress in the field of nanoscale electronics.” Datta is electronics has occurred by shrinking the in research and communication. The widely recognized for his seminal scientific size of the basic device (transistor) and nominations deadline is October 1. Visit contributions to the theory of quantum increasing the number of them on an www.sigmaxi.org for guidelines, past transport in nanoscale electronic devices integrated circuit chip. recipients and other details. and molecular electronics. The critical dimensions of a transistor William Procter Prize Each year Sigma Xi awards the William are now less than 50 nanometers (in the Presented annually since 1950, the Procter Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement horizontal direction) and less than 2 Prize recognizes a scientist or engineer to a scientist who has made an nanometers in the vertical. outstanding contribution to scientific who has made important contributions to This dramatic decrease in physical research and has demonstrated an ability research and demonstrated an ability to dimensions has created the need for new to communicate this research to scientists communicate that research to scientists in and improved theories to deal with the in other disciplines. other disciplines. Past recipients include implications of electronics devices of E. O. Wilson, Jane Goodall Datta’s interdisciplinary work on these dimensions. and . quantum mechanical transport spans Through his books, seminars, tutorials, chemistry, physics and electrical short courses, and full courses at Purdue John P. McGovern Award engineering and has produced: a sound, and online, Supriyo Datta’s ideas are Since 1984, the McGovern Award conceptual understanding of electronic shaping the future of electronic devices. has honored those who have made conduction at the molecular scale; the outstanding contributions to science and first rigorous quantum simulations of Datta received his BTech degree from the society. Past recipients include Sylvia Earle, nano- and molecular scale electronic Indian Institute of Technology and his David Suzuki and Mario devices; and the first concept for a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Molina. spintronic switch (the so-called Datta- Illinois where he was a visiting assistant Das spin transistor) and more recently for professor until joining Purdue in 1981. Walston Chubb Award a new kind of spin-based memory. He was named the Thomas Duncan The Chubb Award honors and promotes His conceptual approach and Distinguished Professor in Electrical and creativity among scientists and engineers. computational methods are now Computer Engineering in 1999. He is Young Investigator widely used by scientists and engineers also director of the NASA Institute for Award throughout the world, and his ideas Nanoelectronics and Computing. • Honoring researchers early in their careers, this award alternates between the physical sciences and engineering, including Membership understand that the goal of this program mathematics, and the life and social is to increase Sigma Xi membership. We (continued from page 347) sciences. hope that any recommendations you claim will be given for the following fiscal year. will supplement the processes you have Evan Ferguson Award Notification of free membership will be already established at your institution for Named for Sigma Xi’s longtime deputy sent to the recommender by e-mail. identifying potential new members. director, the Ferguson Award recognizes Each member who participates in the And remember that these nominees do service to the Society. program can receive only one free year of not have to come from your institution or membership, even if they recommend more even your local area. Feel free to recommend Honorary Membership than five nominees during one fiscal year. a qualified individual you know in another Honorary membership is bestowed on Members who recommend a new part of the country or the world. those not otherwise eligible for membership member will receive credit once the person Questions? E-mail membership@ in Sigma Xi, who have served science, or becomes a member. All information will sigmaxi.org or call 800-243-6534 or the Society, in a manner or to a degree that be verified by Sigma Xi staff. 919-549-4691. • merits such recognition. • Note to Chapter Officers and members of Chapter Nominating Committees: Please

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