Marija Strojnik

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Membership At Large

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I want to advance STEM education, promote scientific leadership and influence in the society, and cultivate a diverse, robust, and inclusive community. These values have been the guiding lights of my life, and I commit to sharing my knowledge and experience with the current and future members.

I will work on behalf of Sigma Xi to advance STEM education from kindergarten to postgraduate training. I have learned that even kindergarten students enjoy learning science and want to understand physical phenomena such as an eclipse, especially when they are the planet Earth. Learning activities will ensure that research is viewed as a source of knowledge, an economic driver, and a pathway to solutions for global problems. We will collaborate nationwide to develop STEM resources for teachers that incorporate experiential learning to promote research for K–12 students.

I am interested in promoting scientific leadership and influence by engaging, developing, and promoting talented leaders who exemplify the Society’s values and advance its core principles. Sigma Xi has a tradition of service to society. I will work to build public trust by demonstrating the ethical nature and importance of research to all aspects of our lives. Sigma Xi will achieve societal impact by promoting ethical conduct in research and education, advocating for evidence-based government policies, and building public confidence in research. We will develop collaborative research with other interested societies, most notably National Academy of Science and National Academy for Engineering to join our efforts.

We will collaborate with local educational institutions to increase mentorship, present viable role models to represent the full diversity of our members and emphasize support for graduate and undergraduate research opportunities. I will foster a cultural change in the academia to provide a more inclusive and more supportive environment that respects the needs and goals of all students, including those heading toward industry and government. I want to see a gradual transition in Sigma Xi interests from guiding the undergraduate students to fostering professional growth among professionals by providing them continued education, training, and development opportunities.

Having seen individuals grow and flourish under my mentorship in three different cultures, I will endeavor to cultivate an inclusive community that enriches our members both personally and professionally. My biggest priority will be to foster a diverse, robust, and inclusive community, drawing on the rich experience of our current and future members. I will seek to integrate underrepresented groups into science and engineering. I plan to pay special attention to extend Sigma Xi’s reach throughout the international research community, while at the same time I would broaden and strengthen participation of local, regional, and national activities.

I will use my formal fiscal training and experience in administration of large projects to collaborate with out Sigma Xi executive director and his staff. Together we will demonstrate administrative excellence and fiscal responsiveness in support of the needs of our membership. I plan to take a sabbatical leave from my professional appointments during my presidency. I would use my time to collaborate with our Sigma Xi executive director and his staff to make our society leaner, more efficient, and agile to serve its membership, the nation, and our home planet.

Marija Strojnik

Chapter Affiliation

Background Information

Statement

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