Beta Kappa Chi (ΒΚΧ) is an American collegiate honor society that recognizes academic achievement in the fields of natural science and mathematics.
Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Society was founded by science students and faculty at Lincoln University on January 31, 1923.
[1][2][3][4] Its faculty supporters were Harold Fetter Grimm, head of the department of biology; Arthur E. James, prossor of chemistry' and Walter Livingstone Wright, professor of mathematics.
[5] As of 2024, Beta Kappa Chi honor society has 67 active chapters across the United States, and 66,000 members.
[11] It is a scholastic honor society that recognizes academic achievement among students in the fields of natural science and mathematics.
[6] The motto of Beta Kappa Chi is ''Science holds the Golden Key to the Royal Palace of Knowledge''.
[8][12] The meaning of the Greek letters Beta Kappa Chi are only known to the society's members, but represent its motto.
[4] Its key is shaped like a benzene ring with the Greek letters ΒΚΧ and a clover leaf above the Β, a skull and crossed bones above the Κ, and a circle above the Χ.
[4] The clover leaf symbolizes botany, the scull and crossed bones represent anatomy, and the circle stands for astronomy.