Allen A. Thomas
Present Position
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Chapter Affiliation
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Background Information
Biography
CV
Statement
Having just recently become a member of Sigma Xi in 2015, I am enthusiastic about what I have seen so far about the organization! I think we would all agree that this is an important moment in history for scientists to influence the public, both in terms of lobbying for pro-science policies but also in educating non-scientists about what it is that we actually do. Accordingly, I see Sigma Xi as much more than an honorary society to recognize research accomplishments; and though I would not want to minimize this valuable central objective, I think our chapters should play an active role in reaching out to the community at large and communicating with our government leaders on behalf of science.
If elected to be Northwest Regional Director, I would like to encourage and enable chapters with information and resources to expand their outreach and member engagement. Please allow me to proudly share with you some of the activities that our chapter at University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) has been doing along those lines and our future plans.
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We hold Science Cafés at least once a month at a highly popular local grille. These Science Cafés are open to the public and are advertised through the university and city newspaper. We had 80 people in attendance at one of the Cafés on Zika Virus!
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This past spring, we held a panel discussion over the solar eclipse at a local community event center. Approximately 100 people, mostly from the public at large, were in attendance at this event, which featured well-known science writer and astronomer Phil Plait.
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We sponsored a Science March in Kearney and had several members participating in the march in Lincoln. Dozens of scientists and others from the community walked along with UNK Sigma Xi representatives at these two marches.
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We showed the documentary “Silent Spring” about Rachel Carson on UNK campus. Before showing the film, we held a roundtable panel discussion, which included professors of chemistry, biology, and history. This was attended by approximately 30 college students and faculty across disciplines.
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We hold a yearly banquet in which we induct new members, elect officers, and discuss the goals for our chapter. Besides this key social event, faculty from different science disciplines and student members of Sigma Xi are joined by supportive university administrators for get-togethers on Fridays during the summer months to socialize and discuss whatever comes to mind at a local grille. These events have fostered new collaborations and collegiality among the membership.
In addition to continuing with these types of activities, during the next year, our chapter plans to initiate a scientific research program that would allow middle and high school students to perform research projects with undergraduate students, leading to a joint poster presentation and a Sigma Xi Explorer membership sponsored by our chapter for the middle/high school student. We see this as an opportunity to engage the local schools in learning more about research, and as a way to grow the Sigma Xi Explorer level membership. I would like to work with the Director of Sigma Xi to identify and implement additional ways in which to expand the Explorer and Affiliate Circle Memberships, both of which I think are potentially wonderful vehicles to engage the public in science activities.
As president of our UNK chapter, I frequently am asked by prospective Sigma Xi members as to why they should join us. My short answer is that by joining Sigma Xi they are gaining recognition for their hard work in research, supporting outreach to educate the public about science, and that membership will allow them more opportunities to interact with and present their work to other scientists. As Northwest director, I would like to help the chapters in our region to develop activities consistent with their club’s particular objectives, so that their members would be able to easily give a persuasive response to the question of “why should I join Sigma Xi?”