| Phi Sigma | |
| Letters: | Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΣ |
| Crest: | Phi_Sigma_Biological_Honor_Society_Crest.jpg |
| Motto: | Truth Shall Spring out of the Earth |
| Birthplace: | Ohio State University |
| Affiliation: | ACHS |
| Status: | Active |
| Type: | Honor society |
| Emphasis: | Biological sciences |
| Scope: | International |
| Chapters: | 93 |
| Colors: | Medium Green, White, and Old gold |
| Publication: | The Biologist |
| Flower: | Shasta daisy |
| Jewel: | Pearl |
| Address: | c/o Dr. Gene Wong Dean of Arts and Sciences Endicott College 376 Hale Street |
| City: | Beverly |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Zip Code: | 01915-2096 |
| Country: | United States |
Phi Sigma (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΣ) is an honor society for students of biological sciences, formed at Ohio State University.
The Phi Sigma honor society was founded on March 17, 1915 at Ohio State University to honor excellence in biological research. 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.
The Greek letters, Phi and Sigma, signify "Fellows in Science". Fellowship in science includes ardent cooperative effort, effective leadership, and creative scholarship.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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 Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Φ and Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Σ, the former being superimposed upon the latter.
Phi Sigma is reserved for students who have demonstrated interest in research and are at the top of their class in their respective universities. At least one-fourth of their college training should include biological sciences.
See main article: List of Phi Sigma chapters. The society reports 93 active chapters since 1915.