Phi Sigma
| Phi Sigma | |
|---|---|
| ΦΣ | |
 | |
| Founded | March 17, 1915 Ohio State University |
| Type | Honor society |
| Affiliation | ACHS |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | Biological sciences |
| Scope | International |
| Motto | Truth Shall Spring out of the Earth |
| Member badge |  |
| Colors | Medium Green, White, and Old gold |
| Flower | Shasta daisy |
| Jewel | Pearl |
| Publication | The Biologist |
| Chapters | 93 |
| Members | 80,000+ lifetime |
| Headquarters | c/o Dr. Gene Wong Dean of Arts and Sciences Endicott College 376 Hale Street Beverly, Massachusetts 01915-2096 United States |
| Website | phisigmasociety |
Phi Sigma (ΦΣ) is an honor society for students of biological sciences, formed at Ohio State University.
History
[edit]The Phi Sigma honor society was founded on March 17, 1915, at Ohio State University to honor excellence in biological research.[1][2] In 1928 its constitution was so altered that the society "should now be considered as a working guild", with a focus on ongoing research. The society now includes more broadly the field of the biological sciences.[1]
In 1947, Phi Sigma became international when it established a chapter at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. In 1949, it opened a second international chapter, at the University of the Philippines in Manila.
Phi Sigma became a member of the Association of College Honor Societies in 1950.[1][2] By 2012, it had 21 active chapters, 905 active members, and 80,063 total initiates.[2]
Its national headquarters are in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Symbols
[edit]The Greek letters, Phi and Sigma, signify "Fellows in Science". Fellowship in science includes ardent cooperative effort, effective leadership, and creative scholarship.[3] Its motto is "Truth shall spring from the earth."[1] Its flower is the Shasta daisy.[3] Its colors of the society are medium green, white, and old gold, taken from the colors of the society's flower.[4] Its jewel is the pearl.[3]
Phi Sigma's coat of arms consists of a simple heraldic shield, that is half black and half silver. The black side represents ignorance; growing from the blackness are green, white, and gold Shasta daisy that represent truth rising toward the light.[3] The silver side represents the silver sky of light and knowledge and has a fiery cloud of intellectual inspiration; a hand bearing a peal, the society's jewel, is coming out of the cloud.[3] Below the shield is a gold scroll with the society's motto.[1]
Phi Sigma's emblem consists of a watch key fob formed of the Greek letters Φ and Σ, the former being superimposed upon the latter.[1]
Membership
[edit]Phi Sigma is reserved for students who have demonstrated interest in research and are inc the top 35 percent of their class with a 3.0 GPA.[2] At least one-fourth of their college training should include biological sciences.[2]
Chapters
[edit]The society reports 93 active chapters since 1915.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-66–67. ISBN 978-0963715906.
- ^ a b c d e "Phi Sigma Honor Society - Biological Sciences". Association of College Honor Societies. February 14, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2025-02-10 – via web.archive.org.
- ^ a b c d e f "About Us". Phi Sigma Society. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Merchandise". Phi Sigma Society. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Hermean/Phi Sigma Societies Collection (MUM00568) at the University of Mississippi, Archives and Special Collections.