In saying that, Bugliarello acknowledged what the administration of Sigma Xi realized four years ago, when the society turned 100 years old: Because Sigma Xi is barely visible on the radar screen of most national science policymakers, it has become dispensable to many new- generation members.
That point is evidenced by the downsizing of the society in recent times. In the last decade, Sigma Xi has lost about 18,000 members, 10,000 of that total in the past three years alone. The venerable society, long known as an organization that honored hard work and brought a mix of scientists together to hold lectures, discussions, and fraternal gatherings, has not positioned itself well in today's fast- paced and stressed research environment. As the society's executive director, John Ahearne, puts it, "When the squeeze is on, as it is today, we are an interdisciplinary society that would not be viewed by scientists as ...
