Top 5 stories from Purdue University

‘Purdue News Now’

Some of the best stories from this week include the launch of the Neil Armstrong Space Prize, the new Space Systems Degree Program and collaborations on national security research. Trevor Peters has all the latest Boilermaker news in this week’s edition of “Purdue News Now.”

Plus, check out five good stories below you may have missed.

Purdue announces launch of Neil Armstrong Space Prize

Purdue University — recognized globally as the Cradle of Astronauts — announced the creation of a new international prize honoring excellence over the past 10 years in space discovery, innovation and human achievement. Named the Neil Armstrong Space Prize, the award is designed to stand alongside other prestigious honors in the scientific field, including the Nobel Prize, and become the premier global honor in space advancement. This transformative initiative leverages Purdue’s unparalleled space heritage, having produced numerous astronauts and pioneering aerospace education and research. The eponymous award honors aerospace pioneer and Purdue graduate Neil Armstrong (BSAAE ’55, HDR ’00), who led the team of three American astronauts who were the first to land on the moon on July 20, 1969.

Media contact: Erin Murphy, ermurphy@purdue.edu

Photo Gallery – Introducing the Neil Armstrong Space Prize

On the 56th anniversary of Boilermaker astronaut Neil Armstrong’s historic first steps on the moon, members of the extended Purdue community gathered at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., for “Space: The Next Endless Frontier.” The event brought together government leaders, astronauts, alumni, friends, industry partners and research collaborators to share insights on how Purdue can remain at the forefront of space exploration.

Media contact: Erin Murphy, ermurphy@purdue.edu

Space systems degrees program meets the challenge of modern engineering 

Purdue University is standing at the forefront of expanding space exploration and a future economy with the creation of the first-ever Comprehensive Space Engineering Degrees Program in the country. The program combines both a new online master’s degree in space systems engineering and a new space engineering undergraduate certificate to the established array of cutting-edge programs in the College of Engineering. The Comprehensive Space Engineering Degrees Program is the latest learning opportunity at Purdue, reflecting a demand for aerospace engineers around the world. The School of Aeronautics and Astronautics continues to offer a variety of important specializations within the undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Media contact: Erin Murphy, ermurphy@purdue.edu

Purdue, Los Alamos sign MOU to collaborate on key national security research

Purdue University and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance a transformative research partnership focused on national security and cutting-edge technologies. Purdue President Mung Chiang and LANL Director Thom Mason signed the MOU in Los Alamos, New Mexico, on July 14. The agreement establishes a new framework for both organizations to pursue joint research and innovation in areas critical to national defense and global security, including advanced materials for hypersonics, cybersecurity, computational modeling and simulation for utilization of AI technologies, and energetics.

Media contact: Erin Murphy, ermurphy@purdue.edu

AP Video – How well do Americans understand food insecurity?

Joe Balagtas is a professor in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics and director of the Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability at Purdue University. Purdue’s June Consumer Food Insights Report focuses on consumers’ perceptions of food insecurity. Food insecurity is when people don’t have the food they need to fuel their lives. When surveyed, 40% of American consumers said they were not familiar with the concept of food insecurity. However, once the term was defined for them, 80% of respondents correctly identified the problems that lead to food insecurity. High food prices, low income, unemployment and the high cost of other living expenses all contribute to food insecurity.

Media contact: Trevor Peters, peter237@purdue.edu

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About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.