The Westwood Lecture Series is a part of President Mung Chiang’s efforts aimed at enhancing the intellectual vibrancy of Purdue’s campus.
Each lecture will take place 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Westwood, the Purdue president’s residence. Space is limited to the first 50 faculty who register, unless otherwise noted. Additional information and a registration link will be available beginning two weeks prior to each lecture.
Sept. 12, 2025
Roger C. Wiens
Professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences in the College of Science on “Spectacular Failures and Brilliant Successes on the Path to Mars: How we’re Finding Potential Biosignatures There and Paving the Way for Astronauts.”
The event also recognized Wiens as the 2024 Herbert Newby McCoy Award recipient.
Feb. 19, 2025
Alina Alexeenko and Elizabeth Topp
Alexeenko — the Reilly Professor in Aeronautics and Astronautics and Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering — and Topp — a professor of industrial and molecular pharmaceutics in the College of Pharmacy, and chemical engineering in the College of Engineering — on “Onshoring Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Towards the Next Revolution.”
Dec. 13, 2023
Preeti Sivasankar
Professor and Department Head, Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; Assistant Vice President for Strategic Health Research, Office of Research; Adjunct Faculty, IU School of Medicine-West Lafayette. “Can You Protect Your Voice? Physiological Investigations from Rats to Humans.”
Nov. 16, 2023
Edward Delp
Charles William Harrison Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, professor of biomedical engineering, professor of computer science (courtesy) and professor of psychological sciences (courtesy). “Deepfakes and Other Types of Generated and Manipulated Media: It Is Real and Coming for Our Society!”
Sept. 21, 2023
Deborah Knapp
Deborah Knapp, distinguished professor of comparative oncology, the Dolores L. McCall Professor of Comparative Oncology and director of the Evan and Sue Ann Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center, on “A New Era in Comparative Medical Research and Opportunities to Position Purdue as a World Leader.”
