Dr. Tom Kvale of Undergraduate Research with Dr. Fred Williams

At the Fourth Annual Posters at the Capitol: Undergraduate Research in Northwest Ohio, the University of Toledo chapter of Sigma Xi, the scientific research society, received an award for distinguished performance.  Award criteria focus on the impact of a specific program on the institution or community (i.e., the size and diversity of the audience, outreach and exposure) and the level of innovation or initiative (uniqueness of program, creative use of resources).  The Program Award recognizes initiatives that address the four major issues at the foundation of the Society’s mission: honor in science and engineering, science education, science policy and the public understanding of science.

Pharmacology associate professor, Dr. Fred Williams, is the president of the UT chapter of Sigma Xi. Sigma Xi is committed to supporting the research enterprise, and the strength of this organization comes from the strong foundation of 522 chapter-based programs.   UT is one of seven chapters to receive the Chapter Program Awards recognition this year.  “The grassroots nature of the Society allows us to ‘think globally and act locally.’ In a world increasingly impacted by science and technology, the need for informed science leadership in our communities and neighborhoods is great,” said Cristina Gouin-Paul, chair, Sigma Xi Committee on Qualifications and Membership.  “Your award-winning chapter is helping to create that kind of leadership, and we hope you feel a part of that success and we appreciate the time and effort your chapter put in to your chapter and program.”

Posters at the Capitol is an annual event where undergraduate students from across Northwest Ohio display their research at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. In 2011, more than 50 students from The University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, The University of Findlay, Ohio Northern University and Heidelberg University participated. Posters at the Capitol is led by UT’s Office of Undergraduate Research and has been supported by UT’s chapter of Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society since the inception of the events in 2008.

“Posters at the Capitol provides an opportunity for undergraduate students from northwest Ohio to showcase their research,” said Dr. Thomas Kvale, director of the UT Office of Undergraduate Research. “This event is designed for students to become more involved with their elected officials and thank them for their support and for the representatives and senators to learn more about the students’ research and discoveries on a one-on-one basis.”  Two students were recognized in the Ohio Assembly during the 2011 event.

All award-winning chapters were honored during the Society’s Annual Meeting in November in Raleigh, North Carolina.

UT’s Sigma Xi Chapter was established in 1955, a UT student research symposium commenced in 1980, and undergraduate researchers began presenting in 2002. The national Sigma Xi organization celebrates its 125-year anniversary this year.

Tags: faculty, february, research

Charisse Montgomery is the Scientific Editor and College Communicator for The University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She was raised in Bellevue, Nebraska and earned her undergraduate degree in English at Towson University near Baltimore, Maryland. She is an alumna of The University of Toledo with master's degree in English from the College of Arts and Sciences, and she has worked as a secondary educator and a freelance writer and editor. She volunteers her time mentoring students and enjoys learning, reading, painting, and traveling.
Email this author | All posts by Charisse Montgomery

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 5th, 2012 at 10:26 am and is filed under News.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.