Highlights from Purdue
January 2019
Annual open letter from President Daniels
In his annual open letter to the Purdue community, President Mitch Daniels shares that 2019, our sesquicentennial year, will be a year of strategic decision making, particularly in terms of the optimal future size of the university, how we expect our future student population to be distributed across the various colleges, and how we will continue to help our students succeed and graduate in a timely manner. More ...
Purdue room and board rates to remain flat at WL, PNW, PFW campuses
Purdue students on all three of the University's physical campuses will see no increase in room and board rates for the 2019-20 academic year. This will be the seventh consecutive year students on the West Lafayette campus will not see an increase in rates. More ...
2018's Top 10 research news stories from Purdue
Air quality for babies, service dogs for vets, the world's fastest-spinning object and an answer to whether money buys you happiness were among the most popular news stories released by Purdue in 2018. Articles about these research efforts appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, NBC News, and thousands of other media outlets around the world. More ...
Trustees OK new unit for system-wide online education
The Purdue Board of Trustees voted Dec. 7 to establish Purdue Online, a new organizational unit that will systematically develop a coordinated, unified system-wide portfolio of online course and degree offerings for students of all types. "The launch of Purdue University Global provided a transformational opportunity to re-examine at a fundamental level how Purdue delivers online education to all of its students, both residential and nonresidential," said Gerry McCartney, executive vice president for Purdue Online. "The creation of Purdue Online is a tremendous giant leap forward for the university in fulfilling our land-grant mission in the modern era." More ...
2019 events keep rolling for Purdue 150th celebration
After a dazzling opening to Purdue's 150th celebration and charge to address the world's greatest challenges, the sesquicentennial momentum continues in 2019 with a lineup of world-renowned experts, innovators and change makers. More ...
Possible biomarker for multiple sclerosis identified
A biomarker for multiple sclerosis that could be an early warning for the disease has shown promise in both human and animal testing. Researchers at Purdue and the Indiana University School of Medicine found that acrolein, a molecule previously suspected as a metabolic waste product that accumulates in people with certain neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, could possibly be used to help diagnose MS. More ...
High-temperature electronics? That's hot
From iPhones on Earth to rovers on Mars, most electronics function only within a certain temperature range. By blending two organic materials, researchers at Purdue could create electronics that withstand extreme heat. More ...
New models sense human trust in smart machines
New "classification models" sense how well humans trust intelligent machines they collaborate with, a step toward improving the quality of interactions and teamwork. The long-term goal of the overall field of research is to design intelligent machines capable of changing their behavior to enhance human trust in them. More ...
New 2-in-1 powder aerosol to upgrade fight against deadly superbugs in lungs
Purdue researchers have developed a new approach to treating the fourth-leading cause of death worldwide -- lower respiratory infections. Lung infections, often caused by multi-drug-resistant bacteria, are deadly because the "superbugs" are resistant to all available antibiotics. Even worse, traditional systemic administrations of those antibiotics cannot reach the lung surface to kill the bacteria, and giving a person high doses can produce dangerous and sometimes deadly stress on the kidneys or liver. More ...
Yin and yang: Opposites in nature, fluoride and lithium, compete for higher-energy batteries
The chemical element that makes up most of today's batteries, lithium, may soon be challenged by its polar opposite on the periodic table: fluoride. Yes, the same stuff in toothpaste. The two elements would be in competition for helping electronics last longer on a charge, such as electric cars that need to travel more miles than is possible with lithium-ion batteries on the market. More ...
Purdue developing new treatment options for millions with autoimmune diseases
Living with an autoimmune disease can feel like an insider is attacking your body. An estimated 24 million people in the United States are affected by autoimmune diseases, a group of diseases in which the person's immune system attacks part of the person's own body. Now, Purdue researchers have developed a series of molecules that may provide more reliable relief with fewer side effects for people with any of several autoimmune diseases. More ...
World War II weapon used in new battle: Combating Parkinson's disease
A World War II chemical weapon antidote is shown to be effective combating a new enemy: Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is characterized by the steady and progressive loss of brain cells. Those afflicted show early symptoms of trembling in their hands, arms, legs, jaw and face. It can progress to the point where walking, talking or completing the most basic tasks becomes a daily challenge. More ...
Ag Producers' sentiment drifts lower; trade disputes continue to concern farmers
There was a modest drop in agricultural producer sentiment in December as farmers’ perception of both current and future economic conditions weakened, according to results from the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The December barometer reading of 127 was 7 points lower than November. The barometer is based on 400 survey responses from agricultural producers across the country. More ...
Indiana's animal shelters are less crowded, thanks to 100,000 miles logged by a mobile spay and neuter clinic
Dozens of Indiana animal shelters have limited resources when it comes to spaying and neutering the animals that come through their doors. Priority 4 Paws, the College of Veterinary Medicine's mobile shelter medicine and surgery program, is bringing some much-needed relief to those shelters – along with helping them reduce the time animals spend waiting for adoption. More ...
Purdue's newest graduates take center stage at commencement
Purdue alumna and retired U.S. Air Force Major Gen. Theresa C. Carter keynoted two commencement ceremonies Dec. 16 at Purdue's West Lafayette campus. The winter 2018 graduating class included approximately 1,491 undergraduate degree candidates, 709 master's degrees and 377 doctoral degree-seekers, two Doctor of Pharmacy and five Doctor of Nursing Practice degree candidates. A photo gallery is available here. More ...
Flint, Michigan, lead crisis should have buried the city in water bottles. So, why didn't it?
One hundred thousand residents of Flint, Michigan, could use water only from bottles or filters during a years-long lead contamination crisis. Purdue researchers found that during the first three weeks of the disaster alone, anywhere from 31 to 100 million bottles were generated as waste. This means that Flint should have been buried in plastic by the time the crisis ended in 2017. But it wasn't. Through investigating why not, the researchers suggest ways to plan for waste so that figuring out what to do with it during a crisis doesn't slow down an emergency response. More ...
Siri, what is AI good for? Purdue professor explains why that is a difficult question
Personal data collection, machine learning and artificial intelligence are encroaching in our lives at a pace that many of us find unsettling, if not downright scary. Not to mention that many of us can't tell the difference in what these terms mean. Purdue's Dan Goldwasser is working to develop tools that harness these powerful new technologies so that they can improve the lives of individuals -- and maybe improve society, too. More ...
International commercialization, startup expert joins Purdue as chief entrepreneurial officer
Scott Henderson, an international commercialization expert, has been named Purdue Research Foundation's new chief entrepreneurial officer. Henderson will provide leadership to the Purdue Foundry, an entrepreneurship and commercialization accelerator, and Purdue Ventures, a capital and talent hub. He also will work closely with the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization and Purdue to guide the award-winning Purdue commercialization ecosystem. More ...
Carroll receives Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence
Natalie Carroll, professor of agricultural sciences education and communication and agricultural and biological engineering, has received the Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to the Rural People of Indiana. Indiana Farm Bureau established the Hovde Award to recognize outstanding educational contributions by a Purdue faculty or staff member to the well-being and progress of rural Indiana. More ...
Purdue memorial honors Tyler Trent
The Purdue community honored Tyler Trent, the alumnus and superfan whose spirit in the face of cancer captivated hearts around the nation, with a candlelight memorial on Jan. 9 in front of Hovde Hall. Trent inspired the Purdue family and millions more around the globe this year as he shared his journey battling a third bout of osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, and showed what it means to be a Boilermaker. Archived video of the memorial is here.
Purdue Systemwide
Purdue Northwest closes the chapter on a poetic 2018
Purdue University Northwest entered 2018 and wrote an exciting chapter in its history, filled with several firsts, shattered records and new beginnings. More ...
Urban League of Northwest Indiana elects Purdue Northwest chancellor to chair board in 2019-20
The Urban League of Northwest Indiana has elected Purdue University Northwest Chancellor Thomas L. Keon as chairman of its board of directors for a two-year term. The Urban League, which serves communities in Lake, Porter and La Porte counties, works locally and nationally to improve social, educational and economic conditions of African Americans and other underrepresented groups. More ...
Purdue University Fort Wayne approved to purchase Park 3000
The Purdue Board of Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of the Park 3000 property at its Dec. 7 meeting. The property includes a 77,000-square-foot building and approximately 13 acres of land at 3000 East Coliseum Boulevard. The acquisition creates a strategic opportunity for Purdue Fort Wayne to acquire an adjacent property and significantly expand the university's footprint across Coliseum Boulevard. More ...
Purdue in the News
Forbes: Purdue University takes giant leaps in democratizing higher education
Wall Street Journal: College bloat meets 'The Blade'
Washington Post: Things really aren't that bad. But we like to think they are
Nanowerk: Data use draining your battery? Tiny device to speed up memory while also saving power
Science Mag: Young, hip farmers: Coming to a city near you
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