Phi Sigma

The Phi Sigma honor society was founded on March 17, 1915, at Ohio State University to honor excellence in biological research.{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2012 |title=Phi Sigma Honor Society - Biological Sciences |url=http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=ps |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414203104/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=ps |archive-date=2012-04-14 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Association of College Honor Societies |via=web.archive.org}} 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.{{cite book |editor1-first=Jack L. |editor1-last=Anson |editor2-first=Robert F. |editor2-last=Marchenasi |title=Baird's Manual of American Fraternities |edition=20th |year=1991 |orig-year=1879 |publisher=Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. |location=Indianapolis, IN |isbn=978-0963715906 |page=VI-66–67}}

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. By 2012, it had 21 active chapters, 905 active members, and 80,063 total initiates.

Its national headquarters are in Beverly, Massachusetts.

The Greek letters, Phi and Sigma, signify "Fellows in Science". Fellowship in science includes ardent cooperative effort, effective leadership, and creative scholarship.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://phisigmasociety.org/WebSiteNew/AboutUs.htm |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Phi Sigma Society}} Its motto is "Truth shall spring from the earth." Its flower is the Shasta daisy. Its colors of the society are medium green, white, and old gold, taken from the colors of the society's flower.{{Cite web |title=Merchandise |url=http://phisigmasociety.org/WebSiteNew/Merchandise.htm |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Phi Sigma Society}} Its jewel is the pearl.

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. 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. Below the shield is a gold scroll with the society's motto.

Phi Sigma's emblem consists of a watch key fob formed of the Greek letters {{lang|grc|Φ}} and {{lang|grc|Σ}}, the former being superimposed upon the latter.

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. At least one-fourth of their college training should include biological sciences.

{{main|List of Phi Sigma chapters}}

The society reports 93 active chapters since 1915.

{{Reflist}}

• {{official site|http://www.phisigmasociety.org/}}
• [http://purl.oclc.org/umarchives/MUM00568/ Hermean/Phi Sigma Societies Collection (MUM00568)] at the University of Mississippi, Archives and Special Collections.

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Category:Association of College Honor Societies

Category:Honor societies

Category:Student organizations established in 1915

Category:1915 establishments in Ohio