FDA Chapter of Sigma XI
The Scientific Research Society

Newsletter -- February 13, 2004

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The lecture presented by Dr. Carole Kimmel describing the National Children's Study of Environmental Effect on Child Health and Development was informative, important and exciting and I might add well attended. There were at least 70 to 80 people in the audience which included not only FDA but members of the DC and University of Maryland Sigma Xi Chapters as well. A copy of the power point slides used by Dr. Kimmel please e-mail me (pwiesenf@cfsan.fda.gov) or Fred Fry (ffry@cfsan.fda.gov). Fellow toxicologist and colleague, Dr. Thomas F.X. Collins, introduced Dr. Kimmel. The lecture stimulated a lot of discussion and identified critical needs for FDA participation in the protocol planning and methods process of the National Children's Health Study. The data that will be generated by this study will help FDA in making risk assessments related to foods, additives, pediatric drugs, medical devices and more. Environmental factors used in the study design include chemical, physical, biological, behavioral, social factors and genetic factors and their interactions with the environment. More information about this study is available at the following website: http://www.NationalChildren'sStudy.gov

Prior to the lecture, Paddy Wiesenfeld, President of the FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi made a few introductions and announcements. Sigma Xi officers present at the lecture were introduced and included: the President elect and treasurer, Dr. Thomas F.X. Collins, Secretary Mary Shackelford, Science Fair co-coordinator, Jeffrey Yourick and Fredrick Fry our Science Forum Liaison and web site manager.

Upcoming Chapter Calendar of Events & Meetings Include the following:

• Joint meeting of DC and FDA Chapters of Sigma Xi on Sunday, March 7, 2004, 2:00 PM at the Patuxent Wildlife Center in Beltsville, MD. The speaker is Dr. Paul Fofonoff from the Smithsonian's Environmental Research Cents at Edgewater. His topic is "Invasive Species of the Chesapeake Bay". A light luncheon by Casual Caterers will be served prior to the lecture. For more details including directions, cost and RSVP see the DC Chapter Flyer
  
  
• Washington Area Science Fairs - consider representing fda sigma xi at a local science fair. if you are interested in being a science fair poster judge contact Jeffrey Yourick (jyourick@cfsan.fda.gov)
  
  

Dates for local science fairs are as follows:

Fairfax, VA (Robinson High School	March 13, 2004
Northern, VA (Wakefield High School)	March 13, 2004
DC (Howard University)	March 20, 2004
Montgomery County, MD (Montgomery Fair Grounds)	March 27, 2004
Prince Georges County, MD (PGCC)	March 27, 2004

• 10^th Annual FDA Science Forum - May 18 & 19, 2004 will be held at the new the Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
  The theme of this year's science forum is: FDA Science, The Critical Path from Concept to Consumer.
  
  Sigma Xi needs Poster Judges for the Science Forum. At the 2003 Science Forum there are over 350 abstracts submitted. We will pair you with someone who has poster judging experience. Criteria and judging materials will be provided. If you are willing to help us, please contact one of the following: Fred Fry (ffry@cfsan.fda.gov); Howard Cyr (hwc@cdrh.fda.gov) or me, Paddy Wiesenfeld (wiesenf@cfsan.fda.gov) or Jurgen von Bredow (J.Bredow@cvm.fda.gov). Remember and be proud of the fact that the FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi developed the format and sponsored the first FDA Science Forum. We need your continued participation and support.
  
  
• Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). We need volunteers (scientists/reviewers/CSO) to host one of about 35 tables on April 29, 2004 beginning at 10:30 AM at the Hunt Valley Inn, 245 Shawan Road, Hunt Valley, MD. Each host table will interact with approximately 9 students plus one teacher for about 60 minutes. This is a wonderful opportunity for the student science regional JSHS fair winners to have a discussion with professional scientists. If you would like to participate in this activity, please contact me pwiesenfeld@cfsan.fda.gov.
  
  
• Election of Chapter Officer for 2004-2005 We need nominations for the following Chapter positions: President-elect and Treasurer. Please consider taking a leadership role in the FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi.
  
  

• Chapter President beginning June 2004 is Dr. Thomas F.X. Collins (he was President-elect 2003-4 and treasurer for over 5 years)
• Secretary: Dr. Mary Shackelford
• DC area Science Fair co-coordinator: Dr. Jeffrey Yourick
• FDA Science Forum Poster Lead: Dr. Fredrick Fry
• Past President-elect and President: Dr. Paddy Wiesenfeld (2002- June 2004)

Please send you nominations for President-elect and Treasurer to me: pwiesenf@cfsan.fda.gov or telephone (301) 827-8526 by March 12, 2004.

• New Sigma Xi member. The FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi welcomes, Nazmul Hassan as an associate member. Mr. Hassan is employed in Jamaica, NY in the Office of Regulatory Affairs in the Imports Operations Branch. He is a consumer safety office assigned to counter terrorism. Mr. Hassan received his MS degree in biomedical engineering from Polytechnic University and SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Nazmul, welcome to Sigma Xi and we hope to meet you in person at the FDA Science Forum.
  
  
• Membership in Sigma Xi. If you know someone whose research, education and review experience would make a good candidate for membership in Sigma Xi, please forward their name to any of the officers or to our chapter web-site.
  
  

• Executive Director for Sigma Xi is Dr. Pat Sculley, former Deputy Surgeon General for the Army.
• One of the goals for 2003/4 year was to have a built and move into permanent Sigma Xi building. This has been accomplished in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
• If you would like us to have another distinguished lecturer, we need to identify them and apply for a subsidy by March 1 http://www.sigmaxi.org/programs/lectureships/subsidy.shtml
• Nominations for President-elect of Sigma Xi are due April 1, 2004. Send nominations to Evan Ferguson eferguson@sigmaxi.org
• Do you know of a special high school science or math teacher that should be recognized? Each chapter can nominate one teacher who will receive a framed certificate or plaque along with a $25.00 stipend. Please send your nominations to me pwiesenfeld@cfsan.fda.gov along with a brief description of why you are nominating the teacher.
• Remember that there are grants in aide available from Sigma Xi and can apply by going to the next deadline for applying for a grant is March 15, 2004.

Respectively Submitted Paddy Wiesenfeld, Ph.D.
President, FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi
February 13, 2004

Remember for information about the national organization go to: http://www.sigmaxi.org
For Chapter updates and other information go to our Chapter website: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sxfda.html