The Williams College Sigma Xi Chapter has played an active role on the Williams Campus since it was founded as the Sigma Xi Club in 1969.  Sigma Xi is a national society honoring and encouraging research in science. The officers for 2011-2012 were Professor Jay M. Pasachoff of the Astronomy Department, President, and Associate Professor Lois Banta of the Biology Department, Secretary/Treasurer.

This year, as usual, the local Sigma Xi chapter sponsored two excellent sets of talks directed to broad community audiences.  In November, we were honored to have Assistant Professor Fred Strauch of the Physics Department at Williams College present two colloquia on quantum information theory.  His first talk focused on quantum entanglement, in which particles remain linked even when separated; the second highlighted his work toward the realization of entanglement in superconducting circuits.

In April, Mea Cook, Assistant Professor of Geosciences, presented two talks on the role of oceans in climate change.  In these lectures, she focused on her research using deep-sea sediments to reconstruct patterns of ocean circulation and greenhouse gas production. Both sets of lectures were followed by the usual lively and well-attended receptions in the Science Center Atrium.

The Williams College Sigma Xi Chapter sponsors a High School Science Award for a student at Mount Greylock Regional High School, Williamstown, MA, in recognition of a high level of motivation and accomplishment in science courses.  This year the award was given to Celeste Thoman Venolia.

One of the primary purposes of Sigma Xi is to recognize graduating science students who have demonstrated exceptional ability and promise for further contributions to the advancement of scientific research.  These students are elected as associate members of Sigma Xi and are inducted into the society at a ceremony during commencement weekend.  On Class Day, the chapter honored 48 newly elected associate members from the class of 2012 in a ceremony in the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance.  The names of this year’s honorees are listed below and detailed descriptions of the their research projects are presented in the student abstracts section of this report.

Associate Sigma Xi members from the Class of 2012