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Home , Ahmed Zewail, Akira Suzuki (chemist), Elias James Corey, Herbert Kroemer, Irwin Rose, John Pople

September-October 2011 · Volume 20, Number 5

Teenie Matlock From the President Wins Young Investigator Award Research Conference in Transition

igma Xi’s In my last letter I presented a Framework for Action that briefly 2011 Young described three actions needed to enable long-term growth SInvestigator and achievements consistent with our Society’s mission and vision. Award goes to One of these core actions is the transition of our annual meeting and international cognitive scientist research conference format. I am very pleased that the transition of Sigma Xi that began Teenie Matlock at at the grassroots level of our chapters and regional meetings has positively impacted the the University of format for our November 2011 meeting and research conference. , Merced. With your continued support, the time is indeed at hand when our proceedings at these She is an associate professor whose main line events will be re-focused on our core values of fostering cooperation among scientists of research is psycholinguistics. and , promoting honor, integrity and honesty in all scientific activities, and Matlock is best known for her work on nurturing the next generation of zealous companions in research around the world. spatial language, especially motion verbs, The core of our Annual Meeting and International Research Conference in Raleigh, but in her latest research, she is investigating North Carolina, November 10-13, 2011 will include speakers and panels, featuring language in the political realm, specifically, prominent leaders in, institutions of higher education, government and private enterprise. how the linguistic details of campaign ads influence attitudes about electability. The panel sessions will focus on She has published more than 50 articles. 1) Ethics & Integrity in Conducting and Reporting Research, Her research combines theory from cognitive 2) The Intersection of , Culture, Religion and Ethics, linguistics and methods from experimental psychology. Many of her projects address 3) Ethics & Integrity in Peer Review and Authorship, and the understanding of meaning. Originally 4) Accuracy of Reporting Research Results and Science in Popular Media. from Mariposa in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Please visit www.sigmaxi.org for updated details on invited and confirmed speakers, Matlock came to nearby UC Merced as a plus bios and accomplishments of this year’s Sigma Xi award winners: founding faculty member in 2004, after completing postdoctoral research at • - Supriyo Datta at : William Procter Prize . for Scientific Achievement, providing an outstanding contribution to scientific She received her Ph.D. in cognitive research while demonstrating an ability to communicate the significance of this psychology at UC Santa Cruz in 2001 after research to scientists in other disciplines completing earlier graduate work at UC San • Former astronaut Kathryn Sullivan: John P. McGovern Science and Society Award Diego and undergraduate work at California • IBM Distinguished Engineer Casimer DeCusatis: Walston Chubb Award for State University, Fresno. Her work has been Innovation, honoring creativity in science and engineering funded by grants from the National Science • University of California, Merced, cognitive scientist Teenie Matlock: Young Foundation and the University of California. Investigator Award, recognizing excellence in research by a member of Sigma Xi She is also on the affiliate faculty in the within 10 years of his or her highest earned degree Institute of Cognitive and Brain at UC Berkeley and serves as a standing • U.S. Congressman David Price (D-North Carolina): Honorary Membership member of the National Institute of Health’s We also plan to hold some of our conference functions at the Sigma Xi Headquarters Language and Communication panel. building in Research Park Triangle, North Carolina. UC Merced’s Academic Senate honored Please join us in Raleigh to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Sigma Xi, The her in 2008-09 with the Distinguished International Scientific Research Society, when we will honor the past and look to the Undergraduate Teaching Award. future with a conference theme focus on fostering integrity in science. “My research is a mesh of cognitive linguistics, experimental psychology and Michael Crosby (continued on page 432) www.sigmaxi.org 2011 September-October 429 Sigma Xi History •1986-2011

This is the fifth in a series of articles about issues involved in the ongoing debate Xi’s continued presence as an authoritative Sigma Xi’s history as part of our 125th on the role of research. On the heels voice in ethics. anniversary celebration. of this came a second popular forum, In 2002, American Scientist launched “Science, , and the Global it first robust website, increasing its he discussions that took place during Society,” which explored where science members’ and the public’s access to cutting Sigma Xi’s centennial in 1986 set the and technology would take Sigma Xi over edge scientific research. Furthermore, after Tstage for its outreach during the balance the subsequent 25 years and how societal a decade of fund raising for Sigma Xi’s new of the 20th century. In June 1989, the board constraints would affect them. home, the organization’s leadership took approved plans for a move of headquarters With the closing of the century came a bold step. In April 2003, ground was to Research Triangle Park (RTP), North a new focus on the internationalization broken for a new office building. Carolina. When the Society moved to North of Sigma Xi’s endeavors. The society The Sigma Carolina in 1990, it leased office space in made concerted efforts to reach out to Xi Center RTP, though long term plans called for colleagues across the globe, helping to opened on building a free-standing headquarters. form international chapters. In addition, December 1, Over the next few years under its new members of underrepresented groups 2003 and executive director John F. Ahearne, Sigma became an ongoing priority to further provided Xi strengthened its presence as a strong diversify Sigma Xi’s membership. attractive new voice supporting science education and the The formation of constituent groups quarters for importance of fostering research. A highly was one of the major structural changes to Sigma Xi, American Scientist and a meeting successful forum was staged in 1993, with take place in Sigma Xi as it moved into the facility where chapters, the Board of the theme “Ethics, Values, and the Promise new millennium. Improvement of website Directors and other groups could convene. of Science,” echoing the dedication of Sigma communications fostered an increase in One striking feature of the new building Xi to high standards. speed and quality of communications was the Hall of Honor, saluting Sigma Xi’s Sigma Xi received a major boost in among chapters internationally. Outreach to now more than 200 Nobel Laureates. heightened general public awareness in the scientists in developing countries through the Sigma Xi continues to be a dynamic spring of 1994, when American Scientist began “International Science Networking Initiative” organization that expands and contracts as general newsstand distribution and sales to the utilized electronic communications as a necessary to integrate new technology and public. Articles of interest were immediately primary means of . the needs of its members. Programming picked up by news services and the venture was The support of the National Science reflects these changes with the establishment successful in building public awareness. Foundation in underwriting a pilot of the Student Research Conference, Held in 1995, the forum titled workshop, “New Ethical Issues in Science Science Cafés and the Affiliate Circle. “ II: Science for the 21st and Technology,” an innovative Chapter Sigma Xi has taken advantage of Century,” addressed many of the critical Workshop Series, demonstrated Sigma new in communications,

1988 1990 1991 1993

Ray Fuller Sigma Xi Gertrude Elion Global Positioning (SX 1960) headquarters (SX 1991), be- Systems (GPS) is invents Prozac, moves to comes the first invented by the first selective Research woman to be Ivan Getting serotonin re- Triangle Park, inducted into the (SX 1937) and the uptake inhibitor North Carolina National Inventors U.S. Department Hall of Fame of Defense

English FDA approves Hubble Channel anti-AIDS telescope Tunnel drug AZT is deployed opens

1987 1990 1994

430 New Sigma Xi Chapters • 1986-2011 Allegheny Univ. of Villanova Univ. Mesa State College St. Mary's College Iberian Health Sciences n William Paterson Clear Lake of CA Florida Intl Univ. Australian Univ. Kalamazoo, MI South Texas Univ. of CA, Merced Four Corners Woods Hole Lawrence Livermore Kennesaw State Univ. Providence College Univ. of NC- Shenandoah Valley National Lab Fairfield Univ. College of Mt. St. Wilmington Southern Maine Northwest Indiana WA College Vincent Univ. of NE at B. P. America NC Central Univ. Carthage College Nordic Kearney Research Triangle Park Prague Institute of Tarleton State Univ. North Shore formulating science news in a variety of Univ. of NC-Asheville Univ. of CA-Irvine Advanced Studies Berry College The Univ. of Findlay CA State Univ.-Long Baylor College of South FL Water WA State Univ. International Partners formats. Science in the News is a daily Beach Management Dentistry Sigma Xi Georgia subscription e-mail featuring top science Greater Baltimore- District Hungarian CINVESTAV u Sigma Xi and technology stories. The Scientists’ Univ. Of MD Swiss New Zealand UNAM Sigma Xi Romania Bookshelf Monthly offers book news, Savannah Waterways SUNY at Purchase Mercer Univ. Eastern OR Univ. discussions and reviews, and downloadable Experiment Station Eastern IL Univ. Univ. of TX at n now part of the Kirksville Northern KY Univ. Barry Univ. Brownsville Drexel University podcasts provide yet another resource for Univ. of CA-Santa Southern Oregon Emporia State Univ. Univ. of MO-St. Chapter members to keep abreast of information Cruz Univ. of Alberta Grove City College Louis u disbanded from both Sigma Xi and nearby research institutions. Social media has also been integrated with a strong presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Sigma Xi Nobel Laureates ResearchGATE. Economics 2000 Perhaps nothing has done more to 1987 Donald J. Cram 1994 John F. Nash, Jr. 2002 Raymond Davis, Jr. 1989 1997 Robert C. Merton 2002 build Sigma Xi’s reputation than the many 1990 2001 George A. Akerlof 2005 Roy J. Glauber forums and proceedings held over the 1992 Rudolph A. Marcus 2002 2005 John L. Hall years, strong publications in ethical issues 1993 Kary B. Mullis 2007 2005 Theodor W. Hänsch and the society’s stance on critical issues in 1993 2010 Peter A. Diamond 2006 John C. Mather 1994 George A. Olah 2006 George F. Smoot science. The publications Honor in Science Peace 1995 Mario J. Molina 2008 Makoto Kobayashi and The Responsible Researcher provide 2007 Albert A. Gore, Jr 1995 F. Sherwood Rowland or Medicine authoritative guidance to the entire 1996 Robert F. Curl, Jr. 1988 Gertrude B. Elion spectrum of research in scientific endeavor, 1988 Leon M. Lederman 1997 Paul D. Boyer 1988 George H. Hitchings 1988 and the landmark postdoc survey Doctors 1998 1992 Edmond H. Fischer 1988 without Orders and the high-level study 1998 1992 Edwin G. Krebs 1989 Hans G. Dehmelt 1999 1994 Alfred G. Gilman Confronting Climate Change have helped 1989 Norman F. Ramsey 2000 Alan Heeger 1998 Robert F. Furchgott direct the ongoing discussions affecting 1990 Henry W. Kendall 2000 Alan G. MacDiarmid 1998 Louis J. Ignarro global populations. 1990 Richard E. Taylor 2001 William S. Knowles 1999 Günter Blobel 1993 Joseph H. Taylor, Jr. Today, Sigma Xi continues to hold true 2002 John B. Fenn 2000 1994 Clifford G. Shull to its founding mission of supporting 2004 2002 H. Robert Horvitz 1995 Martin L. Perl and rewarding scientific research and 2008 2003 Paul C. Lauterbur 1995 2010 Richard F. Heck 2007 providing a forum where scientists of 2010 Ei-ichi Negishi 1996 David M. Lee many disciplines meet as companions in 2010 1997 William D. Phillips zealous research. •

1999 2002 2003 2011

Sigma Xi Raymond Davis Sigma Xi Center Sigma Xi celebrates publishes The Jr. (SX 1942) is built 125th Anniversary Responsible & Masatoshi Researcher: Koshiba Paths and Pitfalls (SX 1954) show that nutrinos have a mass

Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to Mars Rovers be success- Spirit and The Large Hadron Collider fully cloned Opportunity is (LHC) particle accelerator from an adult launched by and collider at CERN , is born NASA begins proton beam tests

1996 2004 2008 www.sigmaxi.org 2011 September-October 431 European Regional Sigma Xi Conference Held in Helsinki Millicent Goldschmidt Receives Evan Ferguson Award n May, Sigma Xi held its first European Annual Meeting and illicent She then entered Purdue IResearch Conference at Aalto Goldschmidt, University to work University in Espoo, to the west of a professor toward a masters and downtown Helsinki. M in the Department of Ph.D. “ in general The conference followed the Microbiology and Molecular always interested me and successful Second Annual Meeting Genetics at the University I took many subjects until and Research Conference of the of Texas-Houston Medical microbiology became the Nordic Sigma Xi Chapter the School, has been selected scientific area of greatest previous day in the same venue. to receive the 2011 Evan excitement,” she once said. Vice President of Academic Affairs Ferguson Award for service “The depth in biochemistry, Heikki Mannila of Aalto University to Sigma Xi. mycology, and bacteriology welcomed the combined conferences. A Sigma Xi member since 1949, [at Purdue] provided me with a Sigma Xi Executive Director Jerry she has served the Society in a variety background that enabled me a broad Baker from Sigma Xi headquarters of capacities over the years. The award choice of future research and teaching in Research Triangle Park, North citation reads in part: “As a world areas. I have taught beginning Carolina, delivered the keynote traveler and consummate educator, freshman chemistry as well as medical address, as he had for the Nordic Millicent Goldschmidt serves as an microbiology to medical, dental and meeting, to the assembled European emissary of outstanding service in graduate students.” participants from , Spain, various fields of science, often through Teaching has always been an integral Denmark, Finland and Norway, with visitors from the . her membership and leadership in Sigma part of her career. In addition to her Xi, but also through her enthusiastic position at the University of Texas Host of the European event was dedication of more than 60 years to Health Center, she holds an adjunct Antonio Pita, Sigma Xi International education, research and publication.” professorship in the Department of Committee Chairman, Executive Goldschmidts’ name will be added Laboratory Medicine at the University Committee member and director to the Evan Ferguson Award plaque of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer of the Canadian/International on permanent display at the Sigma Xi Center. Among her other honors, the Constituency Group. Paul C. Kettler, associate director of the constituency Center in North Carolina. She also Texas Branch of the American Society and founder of the Nordic Chapter, will receive a certificate of recognition, for Microbiology has honored her with assisted in the preparations. Nordic as well as a lifetime subscription to a “Lifetime Achievement Award.” member Tapio Ala-Nissilä of American Scientist. Known as “Mr. Sigma Xi,” the Aalto University provided all local Goldschmidt began her career in late Evan Ferguson (1944-2007), for organization for both conferences. science at Flora Stone Mather College whom the award is named, was highly of Case-Western Reserve University, regarded for his dedication to Sigma Sigma Xi President Joseph Whittaker made a presentation via Skype. where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Xi’s traditions and mission. • Other speakers included Magdalena Navarro of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Carl Young Investigator Award Investigator Award has recognized excellence Johannessen of the University of (continued from page 429) in research and includes a certificate of Oregon, Bert Little of Texas A&M recognition and a $5,000 honorarium. The University and Iberian Chapter human- interaction,” Matlock recipient is invited to present a lecture at the President Urbano Fra Paleo. said. “Many of my projects focus on the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting. Visit www.sigmaxi.org for speaker interaction of language with spatial imagery, Any active (dues-paying) member abstracts and other information. • visual processing, or physical movement. of Sigma Xi within 10 years of his or At UC Merced, I teach Introduction her highest earned degree at the time to Cognitive Science and Introduction of nomination is eligible. The Young to Language and Linguistics, and co- Investigator Award alternates between coordinate Mind, Technology and Society, the physical sciences and engineering, a talk series sponsored by Cognitive Science including mathematics, and the life and and and Engineering.” social sciences. The nomination deadline Since 1998, Sigma Xi’s annual Young is October 1 each year. •

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