State-of-the-art Forestry & Natural Resources Building Will Bring World-wide opportunities
Let’s go inside, said no Department of Forestry and Natural Resources student, faculty or alumni ever! We value wide open spaces, forests, streams and wildlife.
Our department is one of the country’s leading natural resources programs, and Indiana’s only degree-granting and research program in forestry, wildlife and aquatic sciences, so why would we want to go indoors?
Because we’re moving forward on a much-needed new FNR Building.
A new, state-of-the-art, Forestry and Natural Resources building is essential to increasing our technological capabilities, expanding space for program growth, and bringing all FNR faculty, staff, and students under one roof to foster greater interdisciplinary collaborations.
A new, state-of-the-art, Forestry and Natural Resources building is essential to increasing our technological capabilities, expanding space for program growth, and bringing all FNR faculty, staff, and students under one roof to foster greater interdisciplinary collaborations.
A new building also will allow FNR to recruit the very best students, capture new research and educational opportunities, and promote greater communication, innovation and synergy among students, faculty, and staff.
Features of our proposed new building that excite us most include:
- a floor dedicated to the emerging field of digital natural resources where remote sensing, big data, and artificial intelligence are coming together to create major advancements in the way natural resources will be monitored and managed in the future;
- a new hardwood products research laboratory to help support product development for the state’s $10 billion dollar per year hardwood products sector;
- new laboratories to support research on the Great Lakes ecosystem which contributes $5 trillion to the regional economy, and
- new wildlife research laboratories that will support the thousands of Hoosiers and millions nationally who participate in sustainable hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching.
The Indiana State Legislature approves new university buildings as part of their biennial budget process. Approvals for new buildings in spring 2021 have been delayed until 2023 due to COVID-19. Because approvals for the proposed highest-priority building (Nursing/Pharmacy) appears to be pushed back until 2023, the earliest opportunity for a new FNR building is now pushed back to spring 2025. The new FNR building is still the highest priority capital project for the College of Agriculture. We are continuing our fundraising for a new FNR building as we move toward final approvals.
For more about the new building, check these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Will you help build it with us?
FNR Capital Campaign
FNR Capital Conversations
Dean Bernie Engel, who began his role as the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture on July 15, 2023, said in a letter of support, "I am thrilled to share with you an exciting initiative that is poised to take our Forestry and Natural Resources program to new heights. We are continuing our efforts to construct a state-of-the-art Forestry and Natural Resources building on the Purdue campus".
The new FNR Building will replace century-old structures with a state-of-the-art facility that will help our students and researchers meet the natural resource challenges of the 21st century.
Construction cost of the 73,000-square-foot building is estimated at $48.5 million. At least $13 million will be secured through fundraising and other monies from the department and College of Agriculture.
Early support and naming opportunities — through varied types of gifts pledged over time by individuals and classes — are key in this first phase of fundraising. Your gift will continue FNR's excellence.
FNR Capital Campaign.
The new FNR Building will replace century-old structures with a state-of-the-art facility that will help our students and researchers meet the natural resource challenges of the 21st century.
Construction cost of the 73,000-square-foot building is estimated at $48.5 million. At least $13 million will be secured through fundraising and other monies from the department and College of Agriculture.
Early support and naming opportunities — through varied types of gifts pledged over time by individuals and classes — are key in this first phase of fundraising. Your gift will continue FNR's excellence.
FNR Capital Campaign.
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Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) alumnae Rebekah Lumkes and Baleigh Haynes joined an elite group of individuals, completing a 2,192 mile thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. For one, it was the culmination of a college pipedream. For the other, it offered a much-needed life reset.
Full article: Conquering the Trail
Senior wildlife major Sophia Flores receives May 2023 scholarship to study abroad in Tanzania. “Studying abroad was a goal of mine prior to college. it wasn't until my sophomore year that I decided that Africa was the first place I wanted to go. I have always been fascinated with African wildlife and have dreamt of conducting research there for a long time" shares Flores.
Biologists with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Purdue University recently documented a very young hellbender salamander, a gilled larva, in the Blue River while conducting routine surveys in south-central Indiana.
Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources is one of the country’s leading natural resources programs, and Indiana’s only degree-granting and research program in forestry, wildlife and aquatic sciences. Our world-class expertise prepares the next generation of professionals, continues to discover new knowledge, and works together with key stakeholders in the science, management and sustainable use of natural resources. Together we are helping solve some of the most important natural resource problems around the globe.
View: About Us/Rankings
Forestry instruction at Purdue University began in 1905 with a two-semester sequence of courses listed as Biology 20 and 21. Since the start of our program in 1905, we have added an extension program, numerous courses that form our three majors which include Aquatic Sciences, Forestry and Wildlife along with minors in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Forest Ecosystems, Furniture Design, Urban Forestry, Wildlife and Wood Products.
View: History
The 2022 calendar year saw several FNR faculty, staff, students and alumni represent the department both locally and nationally through awards and media appearances.
View FNR research breakthroughs, presentations, media appearances, publications and extension outreach: The People, The Research, and The Collaboration.
Let's Begin a Conversation
FNR Honors Students, Alumni at Virtual Awards Ceremony
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources recognized the department’s student and alumni award winners at a virtual ceremony on April 20, 2021.
Learn more
TWS Honors Flaherty with Excellence in Education Award
After being named as the Student Chapter Advisor of the Year by The Wildlife Society in June 2020, Dr. Elizabeth Flaherty is again being honored by TWS.
Learn more