From the Dean
To
paraphrase Pete Seeger….Where have all the students gone? In the
2005–2006 academic year, we said goodbye to more than 600 students
who earned degrees from the College of Science—or as we like to
say, we said hello to more than 600 new alumni!
Where do our students go after they walk across the Elliott Hall stage? Overall, about half of our undergrads go into jobs and nearly 40% go on to graduate or professional school. (For those of you who are doing the arithmetic, the remaining 10 percent or so are still looking for jobs or applying to graduate school upon graduation.) We’re a diverse college, though, and there is wide diversity of career choices among our various majors. For example, 70% or more of undergraduates in computer science, earth and atmospheric sciences, and mathematics and statistics go directly into the workforce, while the majority of undergraduates in biological sciences, chemistry, and physics enter graduate or professional school.
Many of our newest alumni will go into careers in “traditional” science areas like lab research, medicine and healthcare, engineering, and information science. Their contributions to those fields will have an impact on every facet of our lives. The demand for highly-trained workers in science and engineering fields is real and growing. For example, computer and information science are projected to be major growth sectors in the U.S. in terms of jobs, and the increased demand for computer specialists in the period from 2002 through 2012 is expected to top 1.4 million new jobs. Already there are 17% more information technology jobs in the U.S. than at the height of the dot.com bubble. I have no doubt that some of our new alumni will be stars in fields of science, engineering, and technology that don’t even exist yet!
Other Science grads will use their science education as the foundation for success in careers we don’t traditionally associate with science: law, journalism, business, or sales and marketing are just a few. You can even find Science alumni who are pilots, artists, innkeepers, and interior designers!
The solid education, broad perspective, and critical thinking skills our students learn here will help them shine, no matter which career path they take.
Congratulations to our newest Science alumni! Be proud of your Purdue pedigree, and remember this bit of wisdom from Albert Einstein: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Best regards,
Jeff Vitter
Science alumni earn Purdue honorary doctorates
Three Science alumni have another Purdue diploma to hang on the wall. Tan-Sun (Mark) Chen, Richard Lawson, and Floyd Loop were among 17 recipients of honorary doctorates at Purdue commencement ceremonies in May. Full bios.
Science undergraduates collect diplomas
The
College of Science awarded bachelor of science degrees to 280 undergraduates
in May. Seventy-two students majored in more than one Science discipline,
bringing the total number of degrees awarded to 352. Degrees awarded
by major: biological sciences–106; chemistry–26; computer
science–63; earth and atmospheric sciences–13; mathematics–58;
physics–22; Statistics and Actuarial Science–62; interdisciplinary
science–2.
Doug Comer, Quadraspec named stars in Indiana’s technology economy
Computer science Distinguished Professor Douglas Comer’s dedication to teaching with technology and Quadraspec’s BioCD earned accolades at the Techpoint Mira Awards celebrating the best and brightest contributors to Indiana's technology-related economy. Full story.
Math professor to address international audience
Mathematics professor Jaroslaw Wlodarczyk will deliver an algebraic and complex geometry section lecture at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Madrid, Spain. The conference, which runs from August 22-30, will bring together mathematicians from all over the world and demonstrate the vital role that mathematics play in our society.
Michael Gribskov to talk about the future of computational biology
Biological
sciences professor Michael
Gribskov will give the president’s address at the 14th Annual
International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology
in August. The conference is the annual meeting for the International
Society for Computational Biology, which Prof. Gribskov serves as president.
More information.
Science alum named Tuskegee provost
Luther
Williams, who earned his PhD in biological sciences from Purdue, has
been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Tuskegee
University. Dr. Williams has had a distinguished career that ranges
from faculty positions at major American universities to administrative
roles in higher educational and government agencies, particularly in
science and technology. He is a Distinguished Science Alumnus and has
an honorary doctorate from Purdue. Full
story.
Former biology professor awarded top prize in medicine
Seymour
Benzer, a Purdue physics alumnus, former professor in biological sciences,
and Purdue honorary doctorate recipient, earned the Albany Medical Center
Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research, the most prestigious prize
in medicine in the United States. Full
story.
Chemistry Department staff earns RAVEs for working together
“It’s like a family,” says Donna Wilkinson about the Chemistry Department staff. The department won Purdue WorkLife Programs’ first RAVE (Recognizing All Valuable Employees) award for a culture of caring and doing more than the expected to help each other. The department’s 90 administrative and professional, clerical, and service staff enjoyed a pizza party sponsored by WorkLife.
Can you hear me now? Computer scientists look at VoIP vulnerabilities
Computer Science professors Sonia Fahmy and Elisa Bertino are part of a multi-university collaboration developing tests to analyze vulnerabilities in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The group received National Science Foundation funding to work on such projects as denial of service attack experiments and evaluations of tradeoffs between security and quality of service. Full story.
New method makes chemical analysis simpler
Researchers
led by R. Graham Cooks, Henry Bohn Hass Distinguished Professor of Analytical
Chemistry have developed a relatively simple alternative to the sophisticated
techniques now used to ionize materials, a critical step needed for
chemical analyses using mass spectrometers. The new method is particularly
useful for analyzing materials that play vital roles in biological processes.
Full
story.
Is global warming causing stronger storms?
Research
by earth and atmospheric sciences assistant professor Matthew
Huber and graduate student Ryan Sriver supports the idea that global
warming is causing stronger hurricanes. Their results match work by
climate researchers at M.I.T., but whether global warming is linked
to stronger storms is a subject of dispute in the scientific community,
says the New York Times. Full
story. Matt was part of a CBS News feature on the upcoming hurricane
season. Go to CBS
News and click on "Hurricane Season Underway" to see the
video.
Spafford gives security advice to IT executives
Eugene
Spafford, professor of computer science and executive director of the
Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security
(CERIAS), sat down recently
to talk with Network World.com about some of the newest security threats
and what network executives can do to mitigate them. Full
interview.
Endocyte patents another cancer targeting technology
Endocyte
Inc. has earned another patent for technology that holds promise for
new immunotherapy products to treat cancer. The company, founded on
research conducted by chemistry professor Phil Low, is working on a
new generation of therapies with enhanced targeting capabilities to
treat different forms of cancer and inflammatory disease. Full
story.
Palm trees at the North Pole? Study says it was possible 55 million years ago
A
treasure trove of scientific data is revealing that the North Pole was
much warmer about 55 million years ago than scientists had imagined.
Earth and atmospheric sciences assistant professor Matthew Huber says
climate models were wrong about such warmth in the past, which may also
mean they're not accurately predicting the future. Full
story.
Science Business Partners Program is in business!
The College of Science has officially launched the Science Business Partners Program—a customer-driven program designed to build strong, beneficial relationships with businesses around the world. Learn about the program and how your company can become part of the team by visiting the SBPP website.
Science Kids invade Dupont
These
4th, 5th, and 6th-graders at Dupont Elementary School in Dupont, Indiana
are members of the Science Kids Club. The school sponsored membership
for all interested kids, and they're now having science fun while they
learn about science. Check
out the Science Kids Club.
Research Funding Report
Science researchers received funding totaling more than $6 million in April 2006. Complete list of funded proposals.
Smalltimes says Purdue nanotech is big
Purdue’s nanotechnology research program, built around the new Birck Nanotechnology Center in Discovery Park, is among the best in the nation, according to rankings released by a leading trade publication. Full story.
Purdue President Emeritus Beering to head National Science Board
Purdue University Emeritus President Steven C. Beering was elected to chair the National Science Board, which provides oversight for and establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation. Full story.
Each
month we spotlight the personal accomplishments and career successes,
whether mainstream or unique, of Science alumni. This month's spotlight
is on Celeste Bottorff, who received her B.S. in physics in 1975. Full
story.
Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Update your information and share your professional news as well as your personal and family milestones with your classmates and the Science community. Click here.
Click here for this month’s Alumni News.
Science Kids Club blasts off
The Science Kids Club is off and running! Since we launched the club in October, nearly 150 kids have joined! Enroll the special kids in your life in the Science Kids Club for Science fun for kids of all ages. More information.
Stay connected!
Join the Purdue Web Community and stay connected to your alma mater. This interactive site will help you keep in touch with your Purdue family—your friends, faculty and staff, and fellow alumni. Click here to sign up and get started.
Join the President's Council and contribute to Purdue's future!
The President's Council is a unique group of alumni and friends who contribute generously to the future of Purdue University. Working closely with the president, these leaders volunteer to support the University in ways that are very personal and meaningful to them. Through special events and programs, members build strong and lasting relationships with one another—relationships that enhance their experiences and change their lives. Click here to join online!
Kids to learn about building blocks of life
Middle school and high school students will be able to get their hands on science in two camps happening this month. To get more information or to apply for these on-campus experiences, go to Multicultural Science Programs and Women in Science Programs.
Summer camp to give kids early start in computing
The Department of Computer Science will offer a camp this month for middle school students who are interested in computers. Beginners and advanced computer users can experience Lego robotics, Web design, and other computing concepts at the four-day camps. Space is still available in the advanced camp! Get more information or sign up.
Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) Conference, June 6-10
TeraGrid '06 Conference, June 12–15
Day On Campus, June 13–July 5
Purdue Day with the Indianapolis Indians, July 16
19th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, July 30–August 3
.
Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Share your professional news and your personal and family milestones by clicking here.