How to Join

The mission of Friends of Natural Sciences, launched in 1983, is twofold:

·To enhance public awareness of the existence of this distinguished division of Purchase College.
·To provide funding for a Lecture Series which brings to Purchase some of the most noted experts in various fields of Science. We offer these lectures to the public as well as the campus as a community service, free.

Past lectures include:

·"Patenting Life Forms," Mr. Leslie Misrock
·"An Introduction to Virtual Reality," Mr. Rory Stuart
·"Lasers in the 1990’s and Beyond: A Journey Through Science, Medicine & The Arts," Dr. John Ambroseo, Purchase, 1983
·"The New Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Socio-Economic Disease," Dr. Karen
Brudney

In addition to supporting the Lecture Series, funds raised by the Friends have made possible:

·Student research awards for the best original research at the Student Symposium.
·Purchase of equipment to enhance learning opportunities, e.g. replacement of the audio system in the Science Auditorium and recently, additions to our central computer classroom.
·Faculty participation in pre-lecture dinners with visiting scholars.
·Science-related trips which afford a special aspect of the natural world as well as producing additional funds for the division. Past trips include: the Galapagos and Ecuador, Alaska, Costa Rica, and Portugal, including Altamira’s Paleolithic caves.

Dr. Joe Skrivanek, former Head of the Natural Sciences Division, and Gloria Roth, President of the Friends, present an Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research to Michael Trozzo, Math/Computer Science Major, at the 2002 Natural Sciences Symposium. The generosity of the Friends makes these awards possible.