THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH HONOR SOCIETY
University of Michigan Chapter
A 501(c)(3) Tax Deductible Organization since 1903.
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society is the world’s largest
multidisciplinary honor society for scientists and engineers. Its mission
is to enhance the health of the research enterprise, foster integrity in
science and engineering, and promote the public understanding of science
for the purpose of improving the human condition.
The Greek letters "sigma" and "xi" form the acronym of the
Society's
motto,
"Spoudon Xynones," which translates as "Companions in Zealous
Research."
The University of Michigan Chapter received Chapter of Excellence or
Honorable Mention for its activities in the Fiscal Years
2015-2016,
2017-2018,
2020-2021, and
2024-2025.
The deadline for new nominations will be April 09, 2027 for Spring 2027 Initiation
[however, nominations can be made at any time during the year].
Contact Dr. Buchtel (gusb [at] umich.edu) if you have questions or need information on election to the Society.
[The Chapter is grateful to Cathleen Zepelin for her financial support of the new member process.]
Active members of the Chapter have received information about how to make nominations.
2026 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Mary Buckwalter (Forsythe Middle School) was honored as the Sigma Xi
Teacher of the Year for 2026.
[The Chapter is grateful to Council
Member Dr. Peter Woo for his financial support for the Teacher of
the Year Award.]
UPCOMING
2026 Science Café
Wednesday November 18, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
"FUNGAL FRONTIERS"
Dr. Timothy James and Quinn Moon
UM Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Conor O'Neill's Traditional Irish Pub
318 South Main Street
Ann
Arbor
2027 Annual Banquet: Initiation, Speaker
Thursday May 13, 2027
Weber's Inn
Ann Arbor MI
Speaker TBA
RECENT
2026 Annual Meeting and Lecture
Date: Tuesday May 5, 2026 @ 4:30 PM (Virtual)
Dr. Rick Lewis of the UM Psychology Department.
"Patterns of Thought: The story of artificial Intelligence,
and what it
can teach us about the human mind"
2026 Awards Ceremony
Teacher of the Year and Science Fair Awards
Date: Thursday May 14, 2026 @ 4:30 PM (Virtual)
2026 Science Fair (SEFMD.org)
Three members of the Chapter Council judged over 48 posters from the
high school students in Washtenaw County and four stood out as showing
exemplary levels of careful planning, execution and analysis of
important scientific questions. The students were honored at an
Awards Ceremony on Thursday May 14, 2026 (virtual)
Science Café
[Organized by UMMNH and Sponsored by the Chapter]
February 25, 2026 (5:30-7:00 PM)
Conor O'Neill's
“Weathering Winter: How our animal neighbors conquer the cold.”
Presenters: Dr. Cody Thompson, UMMZ Mammals Collection Manager; Dr. Ben
Dantzer, Professor of Psychology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and
Dr. Thompson. Dr. Thompson discussed the diversity of
mammals that hibernate or go through a period of torpor. Dr. Dantzer
spoke about the relevant behavior and physiology.
UMMNH Web page for Science Cafés
2025 Annual Meeting
In-Person at Weber's Inn, Ann Arbor
Thursday May 8, 2025 @ 6 PM
Speaker: Prof. Margit Burmeister on the possible privacy risks of
DNA samples sent to 23andMe, Ancestry.com, and other companies.
What could go wrong? A lot!
2025 Virtual Awards Ceremony
Wednesday April 23, 2025 @ 4:30 PM
Science/Math Teachers-of-the-Year and Science Fair Awards
Dr. Monica Dering (Huron High School) and Mr. James Richardson (Ypsilanti Community Middle School)
------------------
Science Fair: Winning Posters [Judy Bai, Tanay Panja, and Daniel Zhou]
Science Café [Sponsored by the Chapter]
March 19, 2025 (5:30-7:00 PM)
A Prehistoric Pairing: The Love Lives
of Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens
Drs. Molly Hirst and Susanna Gutierrez
.
.
UMMNH Web page for Science Cafés
2024 and earlier
2024 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING
Wednesday May 1, 2024 (4:30 PM)
2024 VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY
Wednesday April 17, 2024 (5:00 PM)
Teacher of the Year and Science Fair winners
SCIENCE CAFÉ [Sponsored by the Chapter]
Organized by the University of Michigan Museum of Natural Science
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
April 24, 2024 (5:30-7:00 PM)
Conor O'Neill's Irish Pub [Ann Arbor]
Notable Webinar in 2022
PLASTICS 101 (or 1, 2, 5)
Wednesday May 25, 2022 @ 4:00 PM
A recording is available; If you missed the Webinar,
contact gusb [at] umich.edu and ask for the link
Webinar on Recycling and the Science behind the
solution to our problems with plastic and other recyclables.
Presenters
Dr. Anne McNeil (U-M Chemistry Dept)
Mr. Bryan Weinert (Recycle Ann Arbor)
Some resources about plastics
and recycling
Cost of items
taken to Drop-Off Station. [Added 09/17/2023]
Washington Post Opinion on the problems with recycling.
Banquets and Annual Meetings since 2006
2006 Banquet
2007 Banquet
2008 Banquet
2009 Banquet
2010 Banquet
2011 Banquet
2012 Banquet
2013 Banquet
2014 Banquet
2015 Banquet
2016 Banquet
2017 Banquet
2018 Banquet
2019 Banquet
2020-2021 Award Ceremonies and Annual Meeting
2023 Banquet
2024 Awards Ceremonies and Annual Meeting
2025 Banquet [see "RECENT EVENTS" above]
501(c)(3) status, formally backdated to our founding year, 1903.
Donations to the chapter's scientific and educational activities are
tax-deductible. Tax ID # 38-1741160
The Chapter has benefited in the past from donations from Pfizer
Pharmaceutical
Company and others in support of our programs and initiatives. In the
recent past,
Dr. Peter Woo (retired chemist from Pfizer) has been the major donor
for the
Teacher-of-the-Year Awards, and we are very grateful for his
support.
The chapter is also very grateful for donations from Ms. Cathleen Zepelin
in honor of Harold Zepelin, a
Sigma Xi member, who died in 2006;
these funds are used to support the
recruitment of new members to the Society,
Send your comments, suggestions and questions about this Web page
to the
Chapter Webmaster ([email protected]).
For information about Sigma Xi activities elsewhere, visit the national Sigma Xi Web Page.
Renewal of Membership Dues and Information about Initiation Fees
Keyed In [Sigma Xi Blog]
Sigma Xi Values and Principles [March 2021]
Locate a Chapter [updated 03/12/2023]
Names state-by-state.
You are also invited to make a Tax-Deductible Donation to the Chapter using this link. Thanks!
Criteria for Full and Associate Membership level
Recent changes
May 8, 2024: Update Officers for 2024-2025
Add information about problems with recycling plastics
and updating the dates and materials associated with
the 2025Awards Ceremony, Science Café and Annual Meeting
March 25, 2025: Announce passing of deadline for nominating teachers and new mebers.
Septeber 24, 2026: Update events and announce the dates of the 2026 Science Ca&facute; and the 2027 Annual Banquet