Programs held in 1999-2000
John Deere Chapter of Sigma Xi
Program List Archive

"Season of Light"

A Special Planetarium Program for the Christmas Season

6:15 pm, Thursday, December 9, 1999
John Deere Lecture Hall --- Planetarium
Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois
On the college campus at the 38^th Street hill entrance,
 about one block south of 7^th Avenue

The evening began at 6:15 pm with a brief business meeting in the John Deere Lecture Hall conducted by President Cecilia Vogel.  Included was is a report from Stacey Rodman who was our delegate to the recent national Sigma Xi meeting held in Minneapolis.

Members of Sigma Xi and their families (age 8 and above) were invited to the planetarium program, "Season of Light".   This program was about the winter solstice and the celebration of the season around the world.  It started at 7:00 pm.

Spring Meeting of Sigma Xi

"Acoustics of Caribbean Steel Drums"

Dr. Thomas Rossing
Physics Department
Northern Illinois University

The Caribbean steelpan is probably the most important new acoustical musical instrument to develop in the 20th century.  In addition to being the foremost musical instrument in its home country, Trinidad and Tobago, steel bands are becoming increasingly popular in Europe, North America, and some Asian countries as well.

We have studied the modes of vibration of steelpans by several makers using holographic interferometry. Nonlinear coupling between the different note areas of the drum is important in producing sound.

Listen to a steelpan demo via a Java applet.

Terminus of the Matanuska Glacier, 1999

Sigma Xi Annual Banquet

Thursday, May 4, 2000
Wilson Center
Augustana College

"Glacial Geology in Alaska"

Dr. Jeff Strasser
Geology Department
Augustana College