13
Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony* The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided as a guide for chapter officers. Feel free to modify this version to suit the traditions and conditions at your institution. Please refer to the SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma Information Book provided

Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

Welcome to

Sigma Pi SigmaReception Ceremony*

The Physics Honor Society

*A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided as a guide for chapter officers. Feel free to modify this version to suit the traditions and conditions at your institution. Please refer to the SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma Information Book provided to chapter advisors each fall for more details about the procedures and symbolism.

Page 2: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

According to its mission statement,

exists to

Honor scholarship

Encourage interest in physics

Promote service

Provide fellowship

Page 3: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

About chapters exist on SPS campuses with a traditional physics bachelor’s degree.

SPS is the Society of Physics Students

The professional society

for physics students and their mentors

SPS and : Linked, but distinct

0500

100015002000

PhDgranting

Master'sgranting

BS only Tw o-year

Other

female

male

total

Numbering over 4000 individuals in over 700 chapters, SPS members receive Physics Today monthly and are eligible for scholarships, research, outreach, and travel awards Go to www.spsnational.org for more information about SPS.

Radiations magazine goes to most of the 40,000 active members of Sigma Pi Sigma. Donors provide annual support for SPS programs, awards, and scholarships. For more info www.sigmapisigma.org

is the

physics honor society(appr. 80,000 historical members)

Page 4: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

“I became acquainted with some students at Davidson College, NC…a very high class liberal arts college… [They] came up with …I said, ‘Oh boy, that’s what we ought to have here at Penn State.”

Marsh White, ‘father’ of Sigma Pi Sigma

Some history of /SPS

was established in 1921 at Davidson College, NC

Page 5: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

Marsh White, 1931

Wheaton College SPS Installation Ceremony

Page 6: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

Penn State’s first Ph. D. recipient, 1926Sigma Pi Sigma Executive Sec. 192?-68Pentagon War Citation---1946Presidential Certificate of Merit---1948AAPT President 1954-55 Co-author, “College Technical Physics”Installation officer for over 200 chapters

Marsh W. White

“Well, I go back to the days … when it was quite customary to paddle the new initiates. …[W]e’d line them up in a row and send them to Pine Grove Mills, and we’d help them along! …You’re supposed to remember them [secret handshakes and such], but I’ve forgotten. When I’d go to install a chapter I’d teach it all to them. You used to shake hands and … say certain names or phrases. So, drifted away from being a ‘fraternity,’ where …there was all kinds of hocus pocus going on.”

In 1934, at the 3rd Congress of Sigma Pi Sigma all elements of secrecy were removed.

Page 7: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

1968 -- teams with AIP

In the fifties, the American Institute of Physics and began hatching a plan to work together on student issues. On April 22, 1968, articles of agreement between the AIP Student Sections and were signed, creating the Society of Physics Students with Sigma Pi Sigma included as an honor society within SPS, and both supported by AIP.

Page 8: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

CongressesThe first Congress was in 1928 with six

chapters at Davidson CollegeThe 8th Congress, held at Purdue in

1967, approved the union between the AIP Student Sections and Sigma Pi Sigma, ushered in the modern era of the society

The 2004 Congress at University of New Mexico was a kick-off event for celebrating the World Year of Physics in 2005.

Highlights included: Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman and Presidential Science Advisor, John Marburger.

The Wilson building (left, above) and the computing center at FermiLab.

Leon Lederman (below)

The 2008 Congress was held at FermiLab for over 600 people, and featured Nobel Laureate Leon Lederman and Neal Lane. The theme was Scientific Citizenship; about a dozen chapter reports submitted reports, seehttp://www.sigmapisigma.org/congress/2008/

Chicago State students with Fred Jerome and Rodger Taylor, authors of Einstein on Race and Racism.

Page 9: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

Service

Sigma Pi Sigma members serve the physics community in many ways, for example:-Supporting local and national SPS programs-Representing physics to the public-Providing alumni networks-Working for sound national science policies-Offering science outreach opportunities

Page 10: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

Symbolism

The Seal

The KeyVoltmeter with lamp & dynamo

The Motto

The Insignia

Page 11: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

Induction: Signing the “Red Book”

Remember, as you pen your name,- Sigma Pi Sigma was founded by students.

- You are joining a distinguished group, connected by common ties of physics.- Membership means honor, encouragement, service and fellowship.

Page 12: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

Charge to New MembersContinue your

commitment as physicists to honorable scholarship, irrespective of your ultimate career trajectory. Traditional physicists and ‘hidden physicists’ alike are critical to the future of society.

Learn more about ‘hidden physicists athttp://www.spsnational.org/cup/home.html

Page 13: Welcome to Sigma Pi Sigma Reception Ceremony * Welcome The Physics Honor Society *A shortened version of the Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, provided

Thanks to:Marsh White

AND

“I’m very happy to have been here.” —Marsh White on his 100th birthday, April, 1996 (he died in 1999)

Tracy Schwab, SPS web guruThomas Olsen, SPS Asst. Dir.Kendra Rand, SPS Program CoordinatorEd Neuenschwander, EditorLydia Quijada Sacha Purnell Douglas DaltonJack Hehn, Cathy O ’Riordan, and AIP managementSome sources used:

The SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma Informtion Bookwww.sigmapisigma.org/history.htmwww.research.psu.edu/history/white.shtmlwww.psu.edu/ur/archives/intercom_1996/April18/CURRENT/white.html