Recent News
President's Response to Haitian Earthquake Disaster
"We are tremendously saddened by the devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti. Many in the Purdue family have been personally affected by the earthquake."
Articles
To the class of 2010: Begin with the end in mind
For most high school college applicants, decision time is here. You've heard from the universities and now you're weighing the variables of academics, campus life, extracurricular opportunities, future careers and financial aid. Although academic excellence will likely figure prominently in your choice, in times like these, cost is also an important consideration. My two cents for the Freshman Class of 2010: The most expensive college is the one you don't finish.
Purdue's Healthy Planet 2010: It's all about taking the right steps
At Purdue, we want you to be healthy, wealthy and wise in the ways of a balanced lifestyle. That's why we've introduced Healthy Planet 2010, a way of focusing attention on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, backed up by the expertise of dozens of Purdue faculty and staff who want to help you live a healthier life.
Purdue addressing budget challenges
The country is facing serious economic challenges, and Purdue is no different. With a growing deficit in the state budget, Gov. Mitch Daniels asked Indiana's universities to reduce their current state appropriation funds. For Purdue this means a loss of $45 million, with $35.8 million coming from the West Lafayette campus.
Despite these challenges, we will continue to increase the quality of our academic programs, expand our culture of research and discovery, and improve the value of a Purdue degree. This is the foundation of our strategic plan.
A woman who reached for the sky helped women reach for the stars
Amelia Earhart has long inspired young women to pursue their dreams, even if they face obstacles to their goals and especially if those dreams will take them beyond traditional careers. Still, in 2006, women held 1.3 million jobs in science and engineering, a third of the 3.7 million held by men. That means plenty of opportunity for women in these fields. Science and engineering careers offer the chance to make new discoveries and to make a difference in the world.
My View: How our economic garden grows
"The recently announced new crop of 50 Indiana Companies to Watch reflects not only the vision of their founding entrepreneurs, but also the future of Indiana."
U.S.News & World Report
July 2009
40 Years After Moon Landing, Time to Launch the Next 'Giant Leap for Mankind'
The Apollo program was a booster rocket for American science. That innovation must be rekindled.
American Executive
March 2008
Purdue University: Discovery Space
"At a time when research dollars are drying up and public universities face growing funding constraints and rising costs, Purdue has established itself as a major regional engine of economic growth, business incubation, and breakthrough research."
LATINA Style
Vol. 14, No. 1, 2008
"I never forgot my dreams of science, and in 1969, shortly after I graduated from Stanford University I was inspired by two events."
The Presidency
Spring 2006
Losing Sleep Over Student Success?
"Whether our concerns are about the future of an individual student, our nation’s competitiveness, or the health and security of the world’s people, the underlying issue is the challenge of making our students' college experience successful."
Hispanic Business
September 2007
2007 Special Report on Diversity: It's Not Rocket Science
France Córdova Blazes Trail for Diversity at the University Level
Woman
Summer 1997
Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground
"We don’t have any idea what our limits are. When you’re out on some of these frontiers, people sometimes don’t understand where you’re going. I want people to feel comfortable with the leading edge."
Mercury
January/February 1992
Women in Astronomy, A Sampler of Issues and Ideas
"Women need encouragement, and this encouragement has to start at home; parents need to value a science career for their daughters."
Science Digest
December 1984
America's Top 100 Young Scientists
"The implications of their work over the next decades will be more profound than we can imagine."
A Message from the President
Dear Purdue family and friends:
We enter the second month of our spring semester with some exciting events focused on health and with continuing pride in our students, faculty and staff who work to make a difference in the world around us.
I’m very pleased to introduce Healthy Planet 2010, a weeklong series of events that promote healthy and balanced lifestyles.
Activities, lectures and programs throughout the week of Feb. 1 will engage members of the campus community in a variety of fitness activities and challenges that address wellness in a holistic sense. Topics include health knowledge and education, life balance, money management and nutrition.
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Healthy Planet 2010 also will showcase the ties between Purdue research and global health concerns through forums such as a symposium addressing health from an environmental and policy vantage point. Details on all the week's events are at the Healthy Planet 2010 Web site.
Health and wellness are, of course, of year-round concern for Purdue students, staff and faculty. Among them are Lara Schlitter, a former Louisville Ballet dancer, who is now a foods and nutrition student. In addition to her studies, she continues to dance and choreograph and is sharing her knowledge of nutritional health through work with Lafayette’s Women, Infants and Children Program. Lara and other students for whom health is a priority are featured in our monthly "Five Students Who …" feature.
Many of our students, faculty and staff continue to be passionate about helping with recovery from the Haitian earthquake disaster. Our student groups have been raising money for disaster assistance, and researcher Eric Calais from the College of Science, who in 2008 reported the potential for a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Haiti and a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in the Dominican Republic, recently returned to Haiti to further investigate the cause of the Jan. 12 earthquake and collect crucial data to assess whether it could trigger another major event to the east or west of Port-au-Prince.
Looking ahead at our commitment to global health, I am delighted to announce that Purdue has the honor of hosting the International Breast Cancer Symposium in October, an event that will showcase our multidisciplinary research on a subject of wide concern and draw global health researchers and advocates to campus from around the world.
As we all consider our own passions -- for health, for family and friends, for our fellow citizens of the world -- I encourage you to pursue them as we do each day at Purdue.
Happy Valentine's Day and Hail Purdue!
France A. Córdova
President, Purdue University