The Karen E. Wetterhahn Science Symposium (“the KEW”) is Dartmouth’s annual celebration of undergraduate research in the sciences. The symposium is named after the late Karen E. Wetterhahn, Professor of Chemistry and co-founder of the Women in Science Project (WISP) at Dartmouth College. The symposium features a keynote address followed by a poster session in which undergraduates have the opportunity to present their research. The event is free and open to the public and is generally attended by students, faculty, staff, visiting scientists, the local community, and pre-college students.
In recent years, over 150 students participate in the poster session, which is open to all students who have participated in science research at Dartmouth. Students who have completed senior honors thesis students are invited to participate in the Sigma Xi Christopher Reed Science Competition, named in memory of the late professor of biology and Chapter officer Christopher Reed. The competition is judged by a panel of Sigma Xi members who base their evaluation on the quality and quantity of research and the effectiveness of presentation. Seniors who participate in the competition and complete their honors thesis are nominated for Associate Membership in Sigma Xi, and the winning posters are on display for the following year in the Kresge Physical Science Library.
