May 31, 2017

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society strives to recognize and award scientific achievements as it promotes the health of the research enterprise and maintains integrity in science. The organization encourages participation of young scientists and welcomes collaboration among researchers of all ages.

When members of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society judge at the world's largest high school research competition, they not only look for high quality research. They seek the best examples of teamwork. Through its membership network, Sigma Xi brings together professional and student researchers from different disciplines. Similarly, at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), Sigma Xi's judging team awarded $6,000 in total as Sigma Xi's Special Awards for Team Science in life science and physical science to promote research collaborations. 

"I found the diversity of students and projects that we interviewed to be a highlight of the Intel ISEF judging experience for Sigma Xi," said Linda Mantel, a Sigma Xi judge at Intel ISEF and president of Sigma Xi's Columbia-Willamette Chapter. “We were all impressed with the imagination and resourcefulness with which students tackled problems important to their lives.”

Approximately 1,700 high school students from more than 75 countries, regions, or territories showcased their independent research at Intel ISEF. They competed for more than $4 million in awards May 14–19 in Los Angeles, California. The fair is a program of Society for Science & the Public. It is funded jointly by Intel and the Intel Foundation with additional support from organizations such as Sigma Xi. Students earned an invitation by winning affiliated local, regional, state, and national science fair competitions.

Eman Ghanem, Sigma Xi's director of Membership, Chapters, and Programs, presented an interactive session titled, "From Exploration to Publication.” She discussed Sigma Xi's refereed journal for pre-collegiate research, Chronicle of The New Researcher.

The following Sigma Xi members volunteered as judges. They evaluated approximately 300 poster presentations in 22 research disciplines to select Sigma Xi's Team Science Award winners. Janelle Simmons, Sigma Xi's manager of programs, coordinated the judging process.

Harkeerat Bedi, Verizon digital media services
Thomas Bell, University of Nevada, Reno
John C. Bruhn, University of California, Davis
Alfred Cocanower, retired air traffic consultant
Eman Ghanem, Sigma Xi
John M. Goodman, writer and consultant to Scientific American magazine
Stephen Hurlock, University of California, Los Angeles
Gary Jones, CEO of Nanoquantum Sciences, Inc
Andrew Joseph, Sigma Xi
Werner G. Krebs, data scientist and founder at Acculation
Linda Mantel, Portland State University
Jason Miller, California State University Channel Islands
Deepak Rajut, Intel Corporation
Thomas L. Rost, University of California, Davis
Dhruvajyoti Roy, senior scientist at Nanogea, Inc.
Stan Tahara, University Southern California
Malgosia Wilk-Blaszcak, University of Texas, Arlington 

"The event was wonderfully rewarding," said Sigma Xi's Ghanem. She noted the research competition had a strong team of judges who represented many fields and areas of expertise, which made the conversations quite enjoyable and informative. “They generously support Sigma Xi’s investment in the next generation of scientists and engineers,” she said. 

2017 Sigma Xi Special Awards

First Life Science Award of $2,000

PLNT061T - Innovative Method of Raising Paddy Seedlings by an Economically Viable and Ecologically Sustainable Method: A Boon to Farmers
Ramkumaar Ekambaram Thondaiman, NSN Group of Schools, India
Siva Bharathi Anbu Bharathi, Nsn Matriculation Higher Secondary School, India

First Physical Science Award of $2,000

CHEM006T - Utilization of Carbon Monoxide as a Reducing Agent for C-C and C-N Bond Formation: Application to Asymmetric Catalyst and Synthesis of New Effective Fungicide
Alexandra Samoylova, Moscow Chemical Lyceum of Moscow South-Eastern Lyceum and Grammar School Complex, Russian Federation
Maria Makarova, Moscow Chemical Lyceum of Moscow South-Eastern Lyceum and Grammar School Complex, Russian Federation

Second Life Science Award of $1,000

TMED036T - Inexpensive Mobile Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy Using Deep Learning
Kavya Kopparapu, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, VA, United States of America
Neeyanth Kopparapu, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, VA, United States of America
Justin Zhang, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, VA, United States of America

Second Physical Science Award of $1,000

ENEV021T - Investigation of the Pyrolysis and Chemical Activation of Expanded Polystyrene Foam to Form Activated Carbon
Ashton Cofer, Columbus Academy, OH, United States of America
Julia Bray, Gahanna Lincoln High School, OH, United States of America

Photo captions

Top Photo: Most of the Sigma Xi judging team at the 2017 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.  
Bottom photo: The recipients of Sigma Xi's Special Awards for Team Science stand with Sigma Xi's Managing Editor of Chronicle of The New Researcher, Andrew Joseph, front row far left, and Sigma Xi's Director of Membership, Chapters, and Programs Eman Ghanem, front row far right.