Hope College Press Releases

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Hope Chapter of Sigma Xi Scientific
Research Society Honored

Posted November 20, 2001

HOLLAND -- The Hope College chapter of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, has received a "Certificate of Excellence" for 2001.

The award, one of only 10 presented nationwide, was announced on Saturday, Nov. 10, during the society's annual meeting, held in Raleigh, N.C. The winning chapters were chosen on the basis of their impact on the community; their innovation or initiative; the breadth and variety of their programs; and the overall quality of their activities.

Sigma Xi is a non-profit membership society of nearly 75,000 scientists and engineers who were elected to the society because of their research achievements or potential. Founded in 1886, the society has more than 500 chapters at colleges and universities, government laboratories and industry research centers.

A total of 23 members of the Hope faculty, representing a variety of departments in the sciences, are members of the college's chapter.

The Hope chapter's activities include co- sponsoring the college's annual "Science Day" for high school students, with several individual members making presentations during the event. The chapter also hosts an annual "Sigma Xi Distinguished Lectureship" that is scheduled in conjunction with Science Day, which was held this year on Thursday, Nov. 1.

The chapter organizes a series of "brown bag" lunchtime seminars, interdisciplinary events during which members of the faculty explain their on-going research to the others present. The chapter also presents awards each year to faculty members in recognition of individual research activities and for outreach to the community.

During the past three years, members of the chapter have also met with local members of Congress to serve as advocates for continued federal support of basic research in the sciences.

In addition, the chapter presents certificates of recognition each spring to graduating seniors who have been involved in research while also maintaining a high grade point average. The students honored are also invited to join Sigma Xi as associate members.

The chapter's officers are: President, Dr. Christopher Barney, who is the T. Elliott Weier Professor of Biology at Hope; Vice President, Dr. Timothy Evans, assistant professor of biology; Past-President, Dr. Brian Bodenbender, assistant professor of geology and environmental science; and Secretary/Treasurer, Dr. Graham Peaslee, associate professor of chemistry and geological/environmental sciences. Dr. Paul DeYoung, professor of physics and chair of the department and a past winner of the Hope chapter's research award, represented Hope at the national meeting and accepted the college's Certificate of Excellence.

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