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'''Sigma Pi Sigma''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΣΠΣ}}'''), founded at [[Davidson College]] on December 11, 1921, is the first<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |title=Extracurricular Activities – Honorary Fraternities |url=https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/archives/encyclopedia/honorary-fraternities-3 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Davidson College Archives & Special Collections |language=en-US}}</ref> and only American [[honor society]] for [[physics]]. The society is an organization within the [[American Institute of Physics]]. It is a member of the [[Association of College Honor Societies]]. The society's stated goals are to honor outstanding scholarship in physics, to encourage students' interest in physics, to promote public service, and to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics. The society has some 90,000 historical members.<ref name="About Sigma Pi Sigma">{{Cite web|url = https://www.sigmapisigma.org/sigmapisigma/about|title = About Sigma Pi Sigma|website = Sigma Pi Sigma |date = n.d.|access-date = December 12, 2018}}</ref> Election to Sigma Pi Sigma results in membership for life.
'''Sigma Pi Sigma''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΣΠΣ}}'''), founded at [[Davidson College]] on December 11, 1921, is the first<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Grooms |first=Holden |last2=Strauss |first2=Ryan |last3=Brady |first3=Marshall |last4=Modlin |first4=Emily |date=November 2016 |title=Extracurricular Activities – Honorary Fraternities |url=https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/archives/encyclopedia/honorary-fraternities-3 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Davidson College Archives & Special Collections |language=en-US}}</ref> and only American [[honor society]] for [[physics]]. The society is an organization within the [[American Institute of Physics]]. It is a member of the [[Association of College Honor Societies]]. The society's stated goals are to honor outstanding scholarship in physics, to encourage students' interest in physics, to promote public service, and to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics. The society has some 90,000 historical members.<ref name="About Sigma Pi Sigma">{{Cite web|url = https://www.sigmapisigma.org/sigmapisigma/about|title = About Sigma Pi Sigma|website = Sigma Pi Sigma |date = n.d.|access-date = December 12, 2018}}</ref> Election to Sigma Pi Sigma results in membership for life.


== History ==
== History ==

Revision as of 01:46, 19 May 2022

Sigma Pi Sigma
ΣΠΣ
FoundedDecember 11, 1921; 102 years ago (1921-12-11)
Davidson College
TypeHonor society
EmphasisPhysics
ScopeInternational
Colors  Forest Green and   Ivory
PublicationRadiations
Chapters575+
Members100,000+ lifetime
PresidentJames Borgardt
HeadquartersOne Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740
WebsiteOfficial website

Sigma Pi Sigma (ΣΠΣ), founded at Davidson College on December 11, 1921, is the first[1] and only American honor society for physics. The society is an organization within the American Institute of Physics. It is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. The society's stated goals are to honor outstanding scholarship in physics, to encourage students' interest in physics, to promote public service, and to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics. The society has some 90,000 historical members.[2] Election to Sigma Pi Sigma results in membership for life.

History

Sigma Pi Sigma was originally founded by a group of ten students and faculty members at Davidson College on December 11, 1921, as an academic fraternity.[1][3] It was the first in the United States specifically dedicated to the study of physics.[1] Historically, it has been associated with Gamma Sigma Epsilon, another academic fraternity founded in 1919 by Davidson students interested in chemistry.[1]

The first major expansion of Sigma Pi Sigma occured in 1925 when a second chapter was founded at Duke University.[1] Later, in 1968, the American Institute of Physics' student sections and Sigma Pi Sigma merged to create the Society of Physics Students.[4][5]

Membership

Sigma Pi Sigma chapters are restricted to colleges and universities of recognized standing that offer a strong physics major. The chapters receive into membership undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, and a few others in closely related fields. Students elected to membership must attain high standards of general scholarship and outstanding achievement in physics. Certain high numerical standards for admittance are established by chapter bylaws and the national constitution. Undergraduate candidates must be in the upper one-third of their class in general scholarship to meet the minimum standard that chapters may use. A higher minimum average is often established for physics courses. Undergraduate candidates must have completed at least three semesters of full-time college work and at least three semester courses in physics that can be credited toward a physics major. Graduate students and faculty members may be elected at any time. Students who are not physics majors can be elected, provided that they meet the standards and have demonstrated an interest in physics. A chapter can elect to active membership qualified students and faculty members in nearby colleges that do not have a Sigma Pi Sigma chapter. Physicists in industry and government laboratories, as well as secondary school physics teachers, can be elected on the basis of their professional record.[4]

Honorary members

Honorary Member is the highest level of membership in Sigma Pi Sigma. Only distinguished physicists and related scientists who have made valuable contributions to physics at the national level are eligible for this honor. Local chapters may nominate candidates, but election is only by the National Council.[6] Sigma Pi Sigma has elected over a hundred Honorary Members, including Owen Chamberlain, John C. Mather, William D. Phillips, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Jill Tarter, Carl Wieman, and Robert Ballard.[6][4]

Organization and governance

Sigma Pi Sigma is governed by the National Council, which consists of members of the Society of Physics Students (SPS). The SPS National Council and its Executive Committee decide the policies of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma. The National Council is made up of 36 members, elected by chapters from one of 18 geographic zones. Each Zone represents a section of the country and is represented by a faculty Zone "Councilor" and a student "Associate Councilor". Both Councilors and Associate Councilors participate in zone activities and in the annual policy-making meeting of the Council.[7] The SPS Executive Committee consists of the Presidents of the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma, the SPS National Office Director, the SPS/Sigma Pi Sigma Historian, an at-large member, a student representative, and the CEO of the American Institute of Physics.[8]

The President of Sigma Pi Sigma is elected biennially by Sigma Pi Sigma Chapters from a slate of at least two candidates presented by the National Nominating Committee. The term of the President of Sigma Pi Sigma is two years, beginning thirty days after the election is completed or at the beginning of the next annual meeting of the Council or at the beginning of the next meeting of the Executive Committee, whichever occurs first.[7] The duties of the President of Sigma Pi Sigma include representing Sigma Pi Sigma to the Executive Committee and the Council and providing liaison, together with the Director of the Society of Physics Students, between Sigma Pi Sigma and the Association of College Honor Societies.[8]

Chapters

Sigma Pi Sigma has installed over 575 chapters since its founding.[9]

Presidents

The following served as president of the society since its founding: [10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Grooms, Holden; Strauss, Ryan; Brady, Marshall; Modlin, Emily (November 2016). "Extracurricular Activities – Honorary Fraternities". Davidson College Archives & Special Collections. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  2. ^ "About Sigma Pi Sigma". Sigma Pi Sigma. n.d. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  3. ^ "Bogart Returns From [sic] Physics Frat Meeting" (PDF). The Davidsonian. November 7, 1934. p. 5.
  4. ^ a b c Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-101–106. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  5. ^ Cunningham, Donald E.; Seagondollar, L. Worth; Shugart, Cecil G.; Strassenburg, Arnold A.; White, Marsh W. (1968-09). "The new organization of physics students". Physics Today. 21 (9): 59–64. doi:10.1063/1.3035154. ISSN 0031-9228. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Honorary Members". Sigma Pi Sigma. American Institute of Physics. n.d. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Noted on the CSU Northridge SPS Website, accessed 27 April 2022.
  8. ^ a b Noted in the SPS constitution, accessed 22 February 2022.
  9. ^ Chapters and founding dates noted in the SPS Informational Handbook, accessed 3 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Sigma Pi Sigma Presidents". 23 March 2022.
  11. ^ http://www.adastra-ks.org/150scientists/150scientists_Mar_3.pdf [bare URL PDF]
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