December 16, 2015

Sigma Xi members, chapters, and the public are getting together online for Q & A sessions about research. These sessions are moderated by American Scientist editors and feature Sigma Xi’s distinguished lecturers. So far, the topics have included the hunt for exoplanets, biosensors and food pathogens, air pollution, diversity in science, and how insects use scents.

The sessions are held through Google Hangouts, a free teleconferencing service. You can watch these hangouts and ask questions during the live broadcasts or you can watch recordings of the hangouts when it’s convenient for you. 

Sigma Xi chapters are encouraged to get involved by hosting an event that coincides with a hangout, either by watching a live broadcast together, contributing to the live conversation on Twitter using #AmSciGHO, or by watching a recording and having a follow-up conversation. Recent hangouts have been supported by the Research Triangle Park Chapter, the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville Chapter, the North Carolina State University Chapter, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Chapter. Chapters can also use these Google Hangouts to decide which lecturer to bring to their local area for an in-person presentation.  

Additionally, Sigma Xi members are invited to use our online community, The Lab: Members to Members, at community.sigmaxi.org to send in their questions before the hangouts or to continue the conversation afterwards.

The Distinguished Lectureship program is supported by Sigma Xi members with additional support from partnership organizations, such as the American Meteorological Society and the National Cancer Institute. 

The first hangout in 2016 will focus on the anthropology of the first people of the New World. 

The schedule and recordings of past hangouts are available on our Lectureships page. Chapters who wish to get involved may contact chapters@sigmaxi.org.

 Photos: Screenshots of Google Hangouts with Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturers, from top: Omowunmi Sadik of State University of New York at Binghamton, Debra Fischer of Yale University, and John G. Hildebrand of University of Arizona.