Iota Sigma Pi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iota Sigma Pi |
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| ΙΣΠ | |
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| Founded | 1900 University of California |
| Type | Honor |
| Emphasis | Women in chemistry |
| Scope | National |
| Colors | White, Gold, and Cedar green |
| Flower | White narcissus |
| Publication | The Iotan |
| Chapters | 15 active, 47 installed |
| Members | 11,000+ lifetime |
| Headquarters | c/o Margaret Workman DePaul University 1110 W. Belden Ave. Room 203 Chicago, Illinois 60614 United States |
Iota Sigma Pi (pronounced Eye-oh-tah Sig-mah Pee) is a special group in the United States. It's an honor society for women who study chemistry. This group started in 1900. Its main goal is to help women succeed in science, especially chemistry.
It also helps women grow personally and professionally in these fields. Like other honor societies, Iota Sigma Pi helps members connect with each other. They also celebrate the amazing things women achieve in chemistry.
Contents
History of Iota Sigma Pi
Iota Sigma Pi was created when women didn't always get credit for their work. So, women started their own awards and groups. This helped them show their skills and achievements.
How Iota Sigma Pi Started
Iota Sigma Pi was formed by combining three different chemistry honor societies for women. These groups began in the early 1900s.
Agnes Fay Morgan was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1900, she started a group called Alchemi. Alchemi soon grew to include the University of Southern California and Stanford University.
In 1911, another national chemistry honor society began at the University of Washington. A third group, also named Iota Sigma Pi, started in 1912 at the University of Nebraska.
Joining Forces
The two groups from Washington and Nebraska joined together in 1913. Then, in 1916, the three chapters of Alchemi also joined them. This created the larger Iota Sigma Pi we know today.
Goals and Growth
The main goals of Iota Sigma Pi were clear. They wanted to encourage women to study chemistry in college. They also aimed to help members achieve great things in chemistry. The society worked to improve the academic, business, and social lives of its members.
Iota Sigma Pi grew across the country. It even held meetings for the American Chemical Society. In 1925, it became a founding member of the Professional Panhellenic Association.
In the 1930s, a group for male chemists, Phi Lambda Upsilon, asked to merge. But Iota Sigma Pi decided to stay independent.
Recent History
Iota Sigma Pi was briefly part of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). It joined in February 1955 but left in 1963 to work on its own. By 1963, it had 19 active chapters and over 6,271 members.
As of 2025, Iota Sigma Pi has started 47 chapters. More than 11,000 women have become members. Its main office is located at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
Symbols of Iota Sigma Pi
The symbol of Iota Sigma Pi is a special six-sided key. This key has a crescent moon, a circle, and the Greek letters ΙΣΠ on it.
The society's colors are white, gold, and cedar green. Their official flower is the white narcissus. The group also has its own publication called The Iotan, which first came out in 1941.
Chapters
As of 2025, Iota Sigma Pi has started 47 chapters across the United States.
Awards and Recognition
Iota Sigma Pi gives out several awards. These awards celebrate the achievements of women in chemistry. They honor both experienced professionals and students.
Awards for Professionals
National Honorary Member Award
This is the highest award from the society. It's given to women chemists who have made truly amazing contributions to chemistry. The winner receives a certificate and $1,500. Famous past winners include Marie Sklodowska-Curie, Gerti Cori, and Dorothy Hodgkin.
Violet Diller Professional Excellence Award
This award is named after Violet Diller, a past leader of the society. It honors achievements in chemistry in many areas. These areas include working in schools, government, or industry. It also recognizes excellence in teaching or managing chemistry programs. The award includes a certificate and $1,000. Joan P. Lambros was the first to receive this award in 1984.
Agnes Fay Morgan Research Award
The Agnes Fay Morgan Research Award is given to women who have done excellent research. This research can be in chemistry or biochemistry.
Centennial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
This award celebrates those who are great at teaching chemistry or similar subjects. To qualify, a teacher must spend at least 75 percent of their time teaching college students. The award includes a certificate and $500.
Awards for Students
Anna Louise Hoffman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Research
This award is for graduate students who show outstanding chemical research. The student must be studying full-time. They receive a certificate and $500.
Undergraduate Excellence in Chemistry Awards
There are two awards for college students who excel in chemistry. One of these awards must go to a student who is the first in their family to attend college. Each winner receives a certificate and $500.
Notable Members
As of 2025, more than 11,000 women have become members of Iota Sigma Pi.
See also
- Honor society
- List of chemistry societies
- Professional Fraternity Association
