Fred M. van Eck Professor of Forest Biology to be Named

Dr. Douglass Jacobs was recently named as the
Fred M. van Eck Professor of Forest Biology by the Purdue University Board of Trustees at their December meeting.  The van Eck chair is the first named professorship in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resource’s history and was made possible by an endowment established through a gift from the Fred M. van Eck Forest Foundation for Purdue University.  Doug joined Purdue and the Hardwood Tree Improvement
and Regeneration Center in 2001 and has developed a highly productive research program in which he and his research group explore eco-physiological development
of young forest trees to facilitate reforestation and ecological restoration.  Doug has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and garnered over $5 million in grant support.  Doug also has completed 14 graduate students and 5 postdoctoral scientists, and he serves
as editor-in-chief of New Forests.  In addition to his research, Doug has built an active extension program and also teaches Dendrology, Forest Regeneration,
and portions of summer practicum.  Congratulations, Doug!

Purdue Commercializes Faster Growing
Hardwood Trees Called Greatwoods®

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Industries associated with hardwood growth and production may benefit from trademarked varieties of faster growing trees developed through a partnership between Purdue University and the U.S. Forest Service.

Created in 1998, the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC) is developing several varieties of trees under the Greatwoods™ name. Greatwoods varieties include black cherry, black walnut, red oak and white oak that have been developed by selective breeding. The center has a staff of 60, including 25 Purdue graduate students.

Charles H. Michler, HTIRC director and a Purdue adjunct professor of forestry, and his colleagues breed trees for specific traits to increase planting and production in Indiana. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture reports on its website that hardwood products have a state economic impact of more than a $16 billion annually, supporting 35,000 jobs in the industry and more than 80,000 others in economic sectors that support the industry.