Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society is a society for students, particularly for undergraduates. It seeks to encourage scholarly attainment in this field of learning by reserving its regular membership for those who achieve superior academic records and who indicate special aptitude for and major interest in the life sciences. It desires to cultivate intellectual interest in the natural sciences and to promote a better appreciation of the value of biological study and thus welcomes into associate membership all those students who are interested in biology. Beta Beta Beta also endeavors to extend the boundaries of man' knowledge of nature by encouraging new discoveries through scientific investigation and to this end encourages under-graduate students to begin research work and report their findings in the journal of the society, BIOS.
It emphasizes, therefore, a three-fold program: stimulation of scholarship, dissemination of scientific knowledge, and promotion of biological research.
About Beta Beta Beta
TriBeta was founded in 1922 at Oklahoma City University by Dr. Frank G. Brooks and a group of his students. The idea of an honor society for biology students spread rapidly and by 1925, the society was a national organization. Biennial national conventions of student and faculty members began in that year and in 1930 the society journal, BIOS, began publication of student research, articles of interest to biologists, and society news. As the society grew, it was divided into regional and district groups, each of which holds a convention annually. At the heart of every district and national meeting are student research papers presented in the style of graduate meetings. Awards are given for outstanding individual and chapter accomplishment.
The Local Chapter
Individual membership in TriBeta is through a chapter on the campus of a four-year accredited college or university. There are now more than 425 chapters offering their members activities and experiences that enrich and extend but do not duplicate the primary requirements for the biology major. The national constitution provides a framework for chapter activities, but each chapter is free to function in accordance with its own needs and school philosophy. Chapter programs typically include guest speakers, reports of research by members and department faculty, field trips, maintenance of collections, community service, and social gatherings. Most chapters have a lounge or office on campus. A faculty advisor provides continuity and experience to the student members.
For more information about Bethany’s local TriBeta chapter, contact professor Mark Kozubowski. Email: kozubows@bethanylb.edu
Conventions
National registration fees help support 15 district conventions every year and national convention every other year. Just as the local chapter is the center TriBeta programs, the district conventions is the most important regional project. It offers member a chance to report their research and to hear form outstanding graduate investigators and teachers who give invited lectures and hold informal discussions. Like graduate society meetings , the national conventions offer a chance to share current research and discuss scientific issues. Field trips have become an important part of the national convention which is often centered around some biological feature unique to the convention locale. Students who present appears at the national convention are eligible for research stipends. TriBeta also helps defray travel costs by offering travel grants to chapters attending the convention.
National Office
Record keeping, liaison with local chapters, contact with other societies, and administration are centralized in the national office under the direction of the Secretary-Treasurer, the only salaried officer. All other national officers and all faculty advisors to local chapters serve without compensation. For more information about Beta Beta Beta or to apply for establishment of a local chapter, go to the web page for address and/or phone number.
www.tri-beta.org
Awards
Frank G. Brooks Award- for excellence in undergraduate research presented in an oral session at district or national meetings of the society.
The McClung Award- for the most outstanding paper published in BIOS each year.
The Lloyd M. Bertholf Outstanding Chapter Award- for exceptional chapter accomplishment. (Annual)
The Chapter History Award- for outstanding display of chapter activities in scrapbook form (Biennial)
John C. Johnson Award- for outstanding undergraduate research presented in a poster format at district or national meetings of the society.
Beta Beta Beta Research Scholarship Award- intended to support undergraduate research by awarding cash scholarships annually to student conducting student research.
Types of Beta Beta Beta Membership
Regular Members- undergraduates ho show great interest in biology and demonstrate superior academic achievement. Lifetime.
Associate Members- undergraduates who are not eligible for regular membership. Some chapters require a period of associate membership as a prelude to regular membership. Associates end their membership when they graduate or leave school.
Graduate Members- graduate students currently in a biological science program or teaching faculty on a campus where their is a local chapter. Lifetime.
Honorary Members- elected by the local chapter for significant contribution to its program and by the national organization for outstanding service to the society or biology. Lifetime.
Alumni Members- Regular members who have graduated and want to continue their contact and support. includes BIOS subscription. Annual.
Corporate Members- Institutions and or corporations with an interest in biology and the TriBeta program. Write for details. Annual.
Bios
Beta Beta Beta believes that research is not finished until its results are shared with otters. To promote that goal and assist students in learning how to complete the publication process, the society offers its members the unique opportunity to publish their undergraduate work in the pages of its journal., BIOS. There are no page fees; on the contrary, members may be eligible for a $50 grant to offset preparation cost. Graduate co-authorship or sponsorship is not required; however, a second "by-line" is available for faculty or graduate supervisors. All manuscripts undergo the standard scientific procedure of review, editorial acceptance or rejection, and technical editing. Published research has often won prior awards and the McClung Award recognizes the most outstanding paper published here each year. to provide a full range of biological topics to its readers, BIOS also carries overviews of graduate research, often by those directly involved in ground-breaking work, book reviews, reports from local chapters, and other society news. the journal is indexed by several abstracting services and is among the collections of libraries worldwide. The chapter receives a two year subscription to BIOS for each new TriBetan registered.
Fees are paid to the national office for registration in the permanent national records, issuance of credentials, and other benefits. Regular or graduate membership can be certified to schools or employers upon request. Fees are set by the National Executive Committee, and are currently $500 for corporate members, $20 for associates and $30 for all others. Credit is given to regular members for prior associate membership.
