Jason Koski/University Photography

"Companions in zealous research," executives from Cornell's Sigma Xi chapter, clockwise from top left, Fiona Soper, Hugh Gauch, Owen Hoekenga, Zhen Han, Rayna Bell and Kim Morrell enjoy the national accolade bestowed, in Corson-Mudd Hall.

Cornell University’s Sigma Xi chapter – the chapter that founded the scientific research honor society almost 130 years ago – has been awarded its first Chapter of Excellence Award for 2013 by the group’s national executives.

“We’re working hard on living up to the founding principles of Sigma Xi, that we should be ‘companions in zealous research,’” said Owen Hoekenga, the Cornell chapter president and an adjunct assistant professor in plant breeding and genetics.

Hoekenga said Sigma Xi encourages young researchers in a variety of fields, sponsors poster sessions, and hosts departmental seminars and a distinguished lecturer series. Sigma Xi also offers grants to support graduate and undergraduate student research. Last fall, the chapter hosted “Science from the Slope“ on the Ithaca Commons during last autumn’s Apple Festival to communicate scientific ideas to the general public.

“The diverse and robust activities of Sigma Xi chapters make a true impact at the community level by further bolstering the importance and need for excellence in research science and engineering,” wrote Cristina C. Goulin-Paul, chair of Sigma Xi’s Committee on Qualifications and Membership, and Jerome Baker, Sigma Xi’s national executive director.

Sigma Xi has more than 500 chapters around the world. The honor society was founded in 1886 at Cornell by faculty member Frank Van Vleck and a group of engineering students. Cornell’s Sigma Xi chapter admitted women in 1888, and among the first to join was noted entomologist Anna Botsford Comstock. Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann, professor of chemistry and chemical biology, is a member. Nobelists including the late Barbara McClintock, Ph.D. ’27, and the late Hans Bethe, Cornell professor of physics, were members.

On March 20, the chapter will present Hoffmannspeakingon “Indigo: a Story of Craft, Religion, History, Science and Culture” in G-10 Biotechnology at 5 p.m.

The chapter will host a Spring Research Symposium April 25 in A106 Corson Mudd Hall at 4 p.m., to showcase research supported by Cornell Sigma Xi student research grants.