Events & Programs

Below is a list of past events and programs undertaken by Sigma Xi in support of ethical conduct of research.

2011 Annual Meeting

Symposia and workshops at the 2011 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting & International Research Conference delved into a range of issues in research ethics.

The Responsible Researcher: Conscience and Collaboration

Research on Peer Review and Authorship

Interdisciplinary and international collaborations account for a growing proportion of peer-reviewed research results. Despite their potential to address complex problems, collaborations can create challenges and misunderstandings as researchers with different backgrounds seek to conduct and publish their work together.

Sigma Xi is developing a plan to research interdisciplinary and international variations in peer-review and authorship practices. The findings will form the basis of a workshop curriculum that chapters and classes can use to explore these issues.

Sigma Xi and its collaborators are currently conducting pilot work and seeking funding to further develop the project. The plan took shape at Sigma Xi's 2010 Ethics Summit, led by Beth Fischer, Dena Plemmons and Dan Vasgird.

NSF Ethics Pilot Program

Pilot Program for National Dissemination of Instructional Materials on Ethical Issues in Science
The National Science Foundation awarded a grant to Sigma Xi (August 1, 2000 - July 31, 2001) for a pilot program to develop and disseminate materials on ethical issues in science through the Society's chapters. Six chapters (out of 17 who applied) were selected to receive small grants to assist their local programs on ethical issues in science. For summaries of chapter activities, see Chapter Programs.