Sigma Xi Chapter Records

Sigma Xi, an honorary society for scientists and engineers, was founded at Cornell University in 1886 to support research and encourage a sense of cooperation among scientists, a goal encapsulated by its motto “Spoudon Xynones”, meaning “Companions in Zealous Research”.

In 1916 an unsuccessful petition was made for the creation of a Sigma Xi chapter at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Twenty years later, under the leadership of Professor of Chemistry Thomas R. Alexander, faculty members of the Carnegie Institute of Technology who were already members of Sigma Xi petitioned the Society again. Their petition was granted on December 29, 1936, and the new chapter was established on Saturday, May 8, 1937. Amongst the 48 charter members were Otto Stern, later Nobel Prize laureate in Physics, President Robert Doherty, and John C. Warner, later President of the University. Thomas R. Alexander became the first president of the Sigma Xi Chapter.

Notable presidents of the Chapter have included: John C. Warner (1943-44), Philip Southwick (1954-55), Truman P. Kohman (1956-1957; 1980-1981), Wilfred T. Rouleau (1961-1962; 1995-1996) and Paul P. Christiano (1983-1984).

Since 1937 new members have been elected at two levels (associate or full membership) on the basis of their research aptitude or achievements, and upon the recommendation of an Admissions Committee. Graduate students and faculty have traditionally made up the bulk of the membership. The Carnegie Mellon University Chapter of Sigma Xi had 400 active members as of 2005. The annual initiation banquet and lecture, generally taking place in April or May, was replaced by a more informal “science café” in 2009.

The CMU Chapter of Sigma Xi has carried out a variety of activities in support of the Society’s goal. Colloquia and public lectures have been organized from its foundation in 1937, some jointly with the University of Pittsburgh Chapter. Starting in the 1970s more outreach efforts were conducted, notably towards high school students and undergraduates. From 1973 to 1976 the CMU Chapter of Sigma Xi conducted a series of problem solving contests for high school students, and in 1979 it started sponsoring the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Since 1983 it has awarded an annual prize to an outstanding high school science or mathematics teacher in the Pittsburgh region, and since 1990 the Chapter has been a sponsor of the Undergraduate Research Symposium at CMU, providing judges and awarding prizes contributed by local and national industries. And starting in 2001 it also awarded prizes for outstanding projects by high school students enrolled in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science.