From the Dean
Dear Friends and Supporters of Purdue University's College of Agriculture,
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.
Our Forestry and Natural Resources department has been riding the wave of momentum in recent years, establishing itself as one of the nation's foremost leaders in natural resources education and research. We are proud to be Indiana's sole degree-granting and research program in forestry, wildlife, and aquatic sciences, a distinction that sets us apart and underscores our commitment to advancing environmental stewardship and conservation.
We have done all of this – and more – while faculty, staff and students have been housed in some of the oldest buildings in the college and on campus. Many of our Forestry and Natural Resources offices and laboratories are in buildings that are 100 years old which poses a host of challenges for those doing 21st century research.
This new building represents more than just physical infrastructure; it symbolizes our dedication to excellence and innovation. By providing a modern, collaborative space, we will have the opportunity to attract the brightest students, foster groundbreaking research, and facilitate meaningful connections among our students, faculty, and staff. It's a space where communication, creativity, and synergy will flourish.
Crucially, this building will play a pivotal role in propelling our efforts in digital forestry forward. In an era where technology is transforming the way we interact with our environment, our researchers have already secured an impressive $44 million across 35 funded projects dedicated to digital forestry. This building will serve as a hub for these transformative endeavors, enabling us to harness the power of technology to measure and understand our world's forests as never before.
In the spirit of innovation, we have set a lofty goal: to measure every tree on the planet. While this may seem audacious, we firmly believe that with the support of our community, we can make significant strides toward accomplishing this task. By uniting under one roof and expanding our technological capabilities, we are positioning Purdue University as a trailblazer in the realm of digital forestry.
Your support, whether through contributions or shared enthusiasm, will play a critical role in turning this vision of building a new indoors for a better outdoors into reality. Together, we can create a legacy that will impact generations to come, advancing the frontiers of knowledge, fostering environmental stewardship, and inspiring the next generation of leaders in forestry and natural resources.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Bernie Engel
Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture
Purdue University
