The end of the academic year and spring commencement are about a month away, marking a new chapter in the lives of Purdue students moving on to blossoming careers or continuing their educational endeavors. For our faculty and staff, this time signifies yet again their success in the discovery and dissemination of knowledge.
Michelle Thompson, associate professor of earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences, describes OSIRIS-REx — NASA’s first mission to bring asteroid samples to Earth — and what scientists have learned from the samples since they arrived in 2023. Unlike the constantly shifting conditions on Earth, objects in space like asteroids have not been significantly altered since they were formed 4.5 billion years ago. This allows scientists to use asteroid samples like those recovered by the OSIRIS-REx mission to discover what the early solar system was like.
Chi Hwan Lee, a professor of biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering, has been inducted into the 2025 class of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows. This recognition places him among the top 2% of engineers in the field. The distinction is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to medical and biological engineering through research, practice or education.
Purdue’s second annual Festival of Teaching and Learning, set for Friday (April 11) in Honors Hall, will once again bring together educators, researchers and students to celebrate excellence in teaching and explore innovative approaches to learning. Hosted by the John Martinson Honors College’s Blue Sky Teaching and Learning Laboratory in collaboration with the Innovation Hub, Teaching Academy and Center for Instructional Excellence, the festival serves as a dynamic showcase of pedagogical creativity at Purdue. This year's event will feature 58 presenters.
Caltech president and pioneering physicist Thomas Rosenbaum, an expert in the promising field of quantum physics, will join Purdue University President Mung Chiang for a conversation as part of the Presidential Lecture Series. The appearance by Rosenbaum, also the Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and Professor of Physics at Caltech, is at 6:30 p.m. today (April 10) in Stewart Center’s Fowler Hall.
On Purdue’s campus, a network of faculty, staff and students collaborate to help provide students with support. From improving the design of science labs to providing educational accommodations in the classroom, these efforts represent a broad commitment to creating a university where disabled students can thrive.
