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October 21st, 2019
Oct. 21-27, 2019, is International Open Access Week. This is part of a series — written by Purdue faculty — that demonstrates the benefits of open access scholarly publishing. For the entire series, visit https://blogs.lib.purdue.edu/news/category/oaweek19/.
by Monica Cardella and Senay Purzer, School of Engineering Education, Purdue University
As editors, we have had countless conversations with prospective authors and other colleagues about the model used for the Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER): an online, open access, common good journal. Free for readers to access articles, free for authors to publish their work. What? Free for readers and free for authors? How is that possible?
It’s possible because of the commitment of the University and the University Press—it is not possible to maintain a reputable journal without any costs, but through the commitment of Purdue’s School of Engineering Education, Purdue University Press, Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, authors and readers are not limited in their ability to access and publish papers.
Even more important, however, is the question of why.
Open access journals reach those readers who most benefit from the research in those journals: J-PEER disseminates research findings from studies of engineering learning in pre-college settings. This includes studies of how children learn engineering in elementary school classrooms, how teachers learn to teach engineering, how people learn engineering in museums and through “maker” activities. Some studies focus on broadening participation in engineering; others focus on how we measure or assess what children or teachers have learned.
While many of our readers are other researchers who learn from the articles we have published in order to advance their own research, the fact that J-PEER is an online, open access journal means that teachers, museum exhibit designers, afterschool program managers, parents, superintendents, and the general public have access to this research. For us—as not only journal editors, but also as researchers—this resonates with a core commitment of our research—that it not only benefits the research community, but also has the potential to impact practice.
Open access journals help accelerate the growth of our field. For us as scholars in the field of pre-college engineering education research, we also believe that the open access model supports our growing field. The journal started eight years ago in 2011, when the field of pre-college engineering education research was still “young” and emerging. At the time we were members of the original editorial board, under the leadership of the founding editor, Johannes Strobel. We joined the editorial board for the same reason he started the journal: a way to support the growth of this field. The hope was we could provide a venue for scholars to publish their work and a way for people to quickly learn about other work underway in this interdisciplinary, emerging area.
Open access journals foster global impact of research. Research in engineering education tends to concentrate on specific regions of the world, where universities can afford to fund robust databases and high invoices from journal publishers. J-PEER is able to reach a wide global readership that would not have been possible without open access. With this ability, OA democratizes readership and globally inclusive access for scholars.
Open access can help debunk “false” information. People in their everyday life communicate through social media and share with each other information found on the Internet. Often challenging false information can be a problem when access to “real,” academic work is only available to scholars. With open access, anyone can freely and easily disseminate their work.
Open access is a defense against phishing journals. The funding structures of journals that charge authors per page, and the pressures of the tenure and promotion process, have created a vacuum resulting in myriad phishing journals. The recent increase of fake journals is especially confusing for new scholars and graduate students, who are under great pressure to publish their research. Open access is a defense against such exploitation.
For some, a journal that is freely and openly available to the public may generate concern for quality and respect. Yet it is a journal’s review process and the editorial board that matters the most. For us, the choice between an open access vs. a traditional journal was easy. Open access is the future of a democratized readership of research.
Information about other 2019 Open Access Week activities at Purdue is available at https://blogs.lib.purdue.edu/news/2019/09/26/oa-week19/.
Learn more about Purdue’s Open Access resources, including Purdue e-Pubs, Purdue’s open access digital repository, at www.lib.purdue.edu/openaccess.
Filed under: faculty_staff, general, OAWeek19, Open_AccessDecember 15th, 2017
In 2018, the long respected publication Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies welcomes a new look, a new schedule, and new editors. Purdue University Press reflects upon and celebrates the past 35 successful volumes in preparation for the Association for Jewish Studies annual conference, where the future of Shofar will be unveiled in our exhibit booth.
In recognition of the hard work of so many scholars over more than three decades, the Press has composed a special issue, “Shofar’s 35-Year Retrospective,” which is freely available via open access on Project MUSE through the end of January 2018. After January 31, the special issue may be accessed through your institution’s subscription to Project MUSE.
This special issue includes a 25-year retrospective article written by Shofar Founding Editor Joseph Haberer and published in 2008. It also contains a never-before-published 35-year retrospective article written by Shofar Editor Emeritus Zev Garber. Finally, the issue features the top 10 most downloaded articles from online journal distribution partners Project MUSE and JSTOR.
Purdue University Press will exhibit in booth 130 at the Association for Jewish Studies annual conference December 17-19. Please stop by the booth at any time and meet the new editors of Shofar, Eugene M. Avrutin and Ranen Omer-Sherman, during the Monday morning coffee break hosted by the Press. If you’re unable to attend but would like to learn more about Shofar, visit www.shofarjournal.com or contact shofar@purdue.edu.
Filed under: Open_Access, press_releaseOctober 26th, 2017
Suresh V. Garimella, Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships and the R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, was honored with the 2017 Leadership in Open Access Award from Purdue University Libraries and the Office of the Provost Monday, Oct. 23.
This week (Oct. 23-29) academic institutions and libraries across the globe are celebrating the benefits of Open Access for research and scholarship during the 10th annual International Open Access Week commemoration.
According to Dean of University Libraries James L. Mullins, Garimella was selected to receive the recognition this year for leading by example in the Open Access movement at Purdue University. Garimella has more than 400 works posted in the Purdue e-Pubs repository, which have been downloaded close to 256,500 times.
“Dr. Garimella has demonstrated leadership in Open Access to Scholarly Publications by depositing his numerous papers and articles, consistent with copyright and contractual agreements, into Purdue e-Pubs. Therefore, we present the 2017 Leadership in Open Access Award to him in recognition of his outstanding leadership and continued partnership with Purdue e-Pubs to increase visibility of scholarship at Purdue,” Mullins noted.
“It is a great honor to be recognized for our research group’s commitment to Open Access. I am deeply thankful to the scores of students in my group who, over the years, have contributed to the impactful publications that have been eagerly downloaded through the University’s excellent Purdue e-Pubs portal,” Garimella said.
Since 2012, Purdue e-Pubs has close to 15,153,000 downloads from users all over the world, with the average download rate of 2,256,893 per year.
“Dr. Garimella embodies the spirit of the land-grant institution through his work to make scholarly research widely available,” said Jay Akridge, interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Diversity. “I congratulate him and all of the students in his group who contribute to global learning by broadening the reach of scholarship.”
For more information about Open Access at Purdue, visit www.lib.purdue.edu/openaccess. Learn more about Purdue e-Pubs at http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/.
Filed under: faculty_staff, general, press_releaseSeptember 5th, 2017
The newest issue of the Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research, Volume 7 (2017), debuts this week online and in print. This volume, like all previous volumes, is available online and open access. Below is a first-person account of an experience with undergraduate research and the subsequent publication process via JPUR with the student featured on the cover, Jack VanSchaik, who investigates spatial soundscape ecology on page 65 of the volume. The open access version of his article may be found here. 
What is undergraduate research? I first heard about it at a Purdue summer biology camp during high school. Immediately, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue in college. After being accepted to Purdue, I was determined to participate in research my freshman year. However, it proved more difficult than I imagined, and at first, I was rejected due to lack of experience. Then it was hard to find a project that was compatible with my interests and coursework.
However, halfway through my freshman year I received a call from Dr. Mark Ward of the Statistics Department encouraging me to apply to his Sophomore Statistics Living Learning Community (LLC). I did and was accepted into what turned out to be a vital experience of my undergraduate career. Dr. Ward collaborated with professors from a variety fields and disciplines to create undergraduate-friendly research opportunities for LLC students. One professor’s project fascinated me. It was Dr. Bryan Pijanowski and his idea of soundscape ecology. Dr. Pijanowski introduced me to his lab, the Center for Global Soundscapes, where I found my undergraduate research project! I applied my newfound knowledge of big data from my LLC courses to my areas of interest: sound and the environment. I spent a year and a summer at Purdue completing my research project. This experience opened up doors for me to be involved in other projects at the Center, working on statistics, education, and community outreach. I ended up staying after my sophomore year at LLC to continue work on other projects.
When my research neared completion, I submitted it to the Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research (JPUR). I was extremely excited when my project was selected for a full article! It was reassuring to know that after so many hours, my research was worth publishing. However, there was still a lot of work to do. I had to format, edit, and finalize my article. Working with JPUR gave me the opportunity to experience something I had only heard about from Dr. Pijanowski, Dr. Ward, and so many graduate students—paper writing. Participating in the writing and publishing process gave me a glimpse into academic research and ultimately helped me decide to attend graduate school.
Not only did working with JPUR help me decide my future path, but there are several benefits to being published as an undergrad. Graduate schools notice an applicant’s research experience, and it demonstrates his or her capacity to produce publishable work. Similarly, it demonstrates to a company an applicant’s ability to see a substantial project through to its end. Moreover, getting one’s work published also can be a personal milestone. However, I think the most important benefit for publishing one’s research is for the science itself. Every piece of new knowledge, regardless of the field, academic standing, flashiness (the list goes on…), is important. Science is constantly driven forward by humanity’s pursuit of knowledge. Every pursuit of knowledge pushes science forward. When that pursuit stops, science stops, and that cannot happen!
Filed under: general, press_releaseJune 7th, 2017
This release was written by Purdue News Service staff and was published online June 6, 2017.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Lawrence Mykytiuk cannot document that everything in the Bible took place. What the Purdue University Libraries professor can do is show you that many of the people written about did, in fact, exist.
“While some would put their hand on the Bible and really mean it when they take an oath, a few revisionist academics would throw it out and say, ‘That’s creative writing.’ I was looking for concrete, objective evidence outside of the Bible that would help build the case,” said Mykytiuk, an associate professor of library science.
Mykytiuk (pronounced MICK-ee-took) has added three names to the previously published 50 Old Testament individuals in the Bible, beginning with King David, all of whom he says he has verified through his research. The three new people are Tattenai (also translated as Tatnai), a Persian governor during the time of Ezra (after the Babylonian exile); and two high officials of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II: Nergal-sharezer, called the “samgar” official, and Nebuzaradan, “the chief of the guards.”
Tattenai is mentioned in the fifth chapter of the book of Ezra. He also is mentioned outside of the Bible in a letter on a clay tablet from Persian King Darius I the Great, in the year 502 B.C.
According to the Bible, Nergal-sharezer and Nebuzaradan were high officials of King Nebuchadnezzar II, who in 586 B.C. destroyed the First Temple, as well as Jerusalem, and exiled most of the remaining population of Judah. They are mentioned at the scene of the destruction in Jeremiah 39:3 and 39:9, respectively, and Nebuzaradan also is mentioned in 2 Kings, Chapter 25. Their king included them in a contemporaneous list of his courtiers that was written on clay tablets.
Mykytiuk has written about his latest findings in Biblical Archeology Review.
“When you verify that a person existed, you’re not usually verifying that they did what the Bible says they did, because you don’t usually get that much information in the inscription or in the Bible,” Mykytiuk said. “If you get the person’s name, his or her father’s name, and the person’s office or title, that doesn’t verify that they did certain things. But it can sometimes show they were in a position to do the things Scripture says they did. That’s often as far as you can go. Still, there are some longer inscriptions from ancient Israel’s neighbors that mention people and events in the Old Testament, just describing them from a different point of view.”
When verifying an individual, Mykytiuk goes through a painstaking three-step process:
Data is checked to make sure it is from an authentic inscription and not forged. Settings from historical documents are matched up to confirm that the person’s time and socio-political “place” (such as the kingdom of Judah) are the same. Mykytiuk considers a period of about 50 years between the person in the inscription and the person in the Bible as permissible, because an adult could be active for that amount of time.
At least three ways of identifying the individual in the Bible (such as the person’s name, the father’s name, and the person’s title) must match the same three identifying marks of the individual in the inscription. Three identifying matches are considered a lock, two are considered a reasonable hypothesis, or even a likely hypothesis for a match, but one is not enough.
“Sometimes the three-step process is not necessary, as when we know that the person in an inscription and the person in the Bible are both connected to a one-time circumstance or event that fits one and only one person,” Mykytiuk said. “For example, Ahab, king of Israel, ruled during the period in which the famous battle of Qarqar was fought in 853 B.C. His Assyrian enemy wrote about “Ahab the Israelite,” one of the kings he fought in that particular battle. Therefore, Ahab, king of Israel in the Bible, and Ahab, the Israelite king at the battle of Qarqar in the Assyrian inscription, must have been the same person.
After interpreting the inscription according to data from other inscriptions outside the Bible, only then does he compare it to the Bible. “To use biblical data as a determining factor in interpreting an inscription, and then to claim that the inscription confirms the Bible, opens the door to circular logic,” he said.
It’s easy to go online and find long lists proclaiming that they are filled with many more verified biblical figures, but Mykytiuk says many of those lists include forged inscriptions and do not guard against inaccuracies. He has published numerous articles on the subject, presented at academic conferences and taken questions from expert reviewers in biblical studies, ancient history, and archaeology, adjusting his criteria accordingly. Mykytiuk can also read languages used in ancient texts, such as those on monuments, signet rings, and seal impressions in lumps of clay, called bullae (singular: bulla), which were used to seal documents.
The languages he uses to read ancient inscriptions and the Bible include ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. He also reads inscriptions in various Canaanite dialects and in other ancient languages, such as Phoenician. And in order to keep up with recent scholarship on inscriptions, he reads articles in a few modern European languages.
Although the Hebrew Bible names almost 3,000 people, Mykytiuk states that for an overwhelming number of these, it only gives the person’s name and does not supply enough specific information about them to identify them in any other writing. The number of individuals for whom the Bible gives enough information to identify them specifically is far smaller, surely no more than a few hundred, he estimates. With 53 of the people mentioned in the Hebrew Bible now verified through years of research, Mykytiuk will move on to the New Testament, first with a BAR article on 23 verified political figures, then to another one covering about six religious figures. In 2015, he published an article in BAR titled, Did Jesus Exist? Searching for Evidence Beyond the Bible.
He calls such verifications his passion and says it’s important because, “This evidence shows that it is not essential to have religious faith in order to understand and accept much of what the Bible presents. It demonstrates that even on the basis of writings outside of the Bible alone, Scripture does have a considerable degree of historical credibility.”
Media contact: Tim Doty, 765-496-2571, doty2@purdue.edu
Source: Lawrence Mykytiuk, 765-494-3605, larrym@purdue.edu
Filed under: faculty_staff, general, UncategorizedJanuary 9th, 2017
Happy New Year! It’s officially 2017! The new year is a new beginning, a fresh start. It is all about resolutions, change, and challenging yourself. Kick off this year and make it your resolution to become a more avid reader.
You can do this by reading an array of books, books by the same author, or even by completing a reading challenge. Purdue Press is here to help, below are ideas to get you started accompanied with some of our published books.
Reread a book from your childhood.
Read a book from a new genre.
Read a book that became a film.
Read a previously banned book.
Read a book by your favorite author.
Purdue University Press publishes in a variety of areas to help you tackle your 2017 New Year’s Reading Resolution: aerospace, agriculture, animal science, Purdue and Indiana, and more. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter to discover what’s to come in 2017! #PurdueUP #ReadUP
Filed under: UncategorizedNovember 17th, 2016
It’s University Press Week 2016 and this year’s theme is community. University presses have long supported all communities whether they’re local, intellectual, or cultural. Purdue University Press continues to celebrate Indiana’s community with our books and projects featuring hidden stories of Hoosier heroes, Purdue traditions, and Indiana history.
We have decided to highlight books that represent the Purdue and Indiana community in our blog along with our favorite places to read them, for University Press week. It’s a treasure trove of the striking Indiana landscapes, university traditions, and biographies of famous alumni including Official Endorsed Bicentennial Projects celebrating Indiana’s rich heritage.
Read: A Place Called Turkey Run: A Celebration of Indiana’s Second State Park in Photographs and Words by Daniel P. Shepardson — Official Endorsed Legacy Project
Where: The horticulture garden near Pao Hall.
Read: Enriching the Hoosier Farm Family: A Photo History of Indiana’s Early County Extension Agents by Fredrick Whitford, Neal Harmeyer and David Hovde — Official Endorsed Legacy Project
Where: The Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center where you can read and also explore more Indiana and Purdue history.
Read: Slow Ball Cartoonist: The Extraordinary Life of Indiana Native and Pulitzer Prize Winner John T. McCutcheon of the Chicago Tribune by Tony Garel-Frantzen — Official Endorsed Legacy Project
Where: Enjoy a refreshing cup of coffee and calming atmosphere at a local coffeehouse.
Read: Spacewalker: My Journey in Space and Faith as NASA’s Record-Setting Frequent Flyer by Jerry Ross and John Norberg
Where: Take a break near Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering.
Read: Calculated Risk: The Supersonic Life and Times of Gus Grissom by George Leopold — Official Endorsed Legacy Project
Where: Relax on a bench near the Class of 1939 Water Sculpture on Purdue Mall.
Read: The Deans’ Bible: Five Purdue Women and Their Quest for Equality by Angie Klink
Where: Curl up by the fireplace in the Purdue Memorial Union on a chilly day.
Read: A University of Tradition: The Spirit of Purdue Second Edition compiled by the Purdue Reamer Club
Where: At Reflection Park next to the Bell Tower.
Read: Just Call me Orville: The Story of Orville Redenbacher by Robert W. Topping
Where: At Hicks Undergraduate Library in the study spaces.
As the holiday seasons begins find all the titles above and many more that represent several forms of community in our Winter Gift Catalog. Purdue University Press will continue to support community. Find out more on current and upcoming projects by following us on Facebook and Twitter and signing up for our Newsletter.
Filed under: general, UncategorizedNovember 16th, 2016
Note: A guest post by Purdue University Press staff member Dianna Gilroy is written as part of University Press Week and the blog tour coordinated by the Association of American University Presses (AAUP). The AAUP requested blog posts today on staff members making good and doing interesting things in their communities. Below, Dianna shares her passion for her work, editing books, and her work with dogs in our community.
I have been happy in my job as a member of the editorial team at Purdue University Press in working mainly on our scholarly books in the humanities, such as the Central European Studies series and Comparative Cultural Studies series, which I love; but also close to my heart is our New Directions in the Human-Animal Bond series, which connects closely to my work outside the press for animal adoption and welfare and has deepened my understanding of the importance of our connections with animals. The series examines all aspects of human-animal interaction and welfare, including animal-assisted therapy, public policy in areas from hoarding to dog parks, and humane ethics. I have marveled at the series’ accounts of the extraordinary relationships between people and animals—the physical and psychological healing abilities of dogs, the treatment of troubled young people through their connections with animals, and the value of animal parks and activities in our neighborhoods.
Afternoons with Puppy relates psychologist Aubrey Fine’s groundbreaking work in using animals to connect to children with, for example, ADHD, 
learning disabilities, or developmental disorders. In the case study of “Charles,” Fine sensed the boy’s feeling of humiliation and isolation, “revealed in a lowering of his head, a reluctance to make eye contact, and a slumping of his shoulders.” He brought in his golden retriever, Puppy, about whom he writes, “I am convinced that she possessed or more readily utilized some innate sense that allows her to respond to clients faster and on a different level than I can. In fact, I’ve learned that nonhuman contact allows for a huge increase in a patient’s comfort level while in the office.”
Fine notes that one strategy he uses in therapy is empathy, something that those of us who live with dogs have recognized in our beautiful friends again and again.
The discussion of animals’ usefulness in assisting those with psychological challenges has been growing recently, but for some time there has been popular and scientific documentation showing that the partnership with animals, especially dogs, facilitates the healing of a variety of physiological problems. Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound is a recent book that grew out of a program in Columbia, Missouri, where community residents went to the local animal shelter weekly for four weeks to walk a shelter dog for one hour. The project has helped over 1000 dogs to get their exercise, improve their leash-walking skills, and improve their socialization and chances at adoption, all the while making the volunteers more physically active themselves. Authors Phil Zeltzman and Rebecca A. Johnson outline a multitude of health and social benefits associated with dog ownership. For example, people who own dogs are healthier than people who don’t and make fewer visits to their doctor; dogs can lower our blood pressure, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels; dog owners are more likely to survive after having a heart attack; dog owners, especially older ones, are more likely to get out with a pet, stay involved with others, and participate in recreational activities; and the presence of dogs makes neighborhoods safer by increasing social interactions and bringing a regular, reassuring presence to the area: it has been shown that people who have a dog with them are viewed by others as more likeable than those without a dog.
Teaming with Your Therapy Dog looks closely at the intimate relationship between therapy-dog handlers and their dogs, and recognizes the need for handlers to be respectful teammates with their dogs. Author Ann Howie notes that being a teammate requires attention to our own behavior, not just our dog’s. She offers those who live with therapy dogs principles of good teamwork and illustrates how they fit with the Therapy Dog’s Bill of Rights. Reviewer Kathy Klotz writes of the importance of these principles: “If we truly care about our dog partners who give themselves so valiantly to this kind of work, we realize that the role of a handler in a therapy team is pivotal. We must protect, advocate, and speak for our dogs, so that they can trust our support in the emotionally challenging situations in which we place them.”
I understand first-hand both the benefits and responsibilities that come with the human-animal relationship. Since I arrived in West Lafayette for graduate school, I have tried to help people understand the joy of dogs and the need to come to the aid of homeless animals. I have served on the board of a newly created dog park in Lafayette, which gives dog lovers in the community a place to meet other like-minded people and give both people and pets a place for fresh air and exercise. The board has also offered free talks at the local library about dog training, dog health issues, and other topics. Our park has been a clear benefit to the neighborhood in which it is located, in the ways that Zeltzman and Johnson describe. Crime has gone down, and the park has hosted many community events since it opened.
I have participated in or led a team in the local “Doggie Dash,” an annual fund-raising event for a no-kill animal shelter. The event raised awareness of the problem of homeless animals and raised several thousand dollars each year for the shelter.
And through the online global community, I have worked on a charity calendar through an online group of dog lovers called the #BTPosse (Border Terrier Posse on Twitter), a group located mainly in the UK but also in the EU, US, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. Since I started working on the calendar in 2014, we have raised about $25,000 for a UK shelter and animal welfare group. The #BTPosse is a 
fascinating and endearing community of dogs (and their “staff”) who have their own accounts on twitter and speak to one another as dogs. Terms such as “noms,” “zoomies,” “sunpuddling,” “skwizzels,” “curious ears,” and “BOL” (bark out loud) appear in their conversations, as their “typists” channel the personalities of these charming terriers. The #BTPosse is a unique testament to the joy, hilarity, and wonder of the human-animal bond.
Filed under: VETM
July 22nd, 2016
Happy Summer! We hope you are taking time to enjoy the sunshine and catch up on some reading.
It is an exciting time for the Press. We have released many new titles in the past several months and want to provide you a quick review. From Languages and Literature to Regional books on Purdue and Indiana we have great new reads.
Languages and Literature // Jewish Studies
Veterinary Sciences & Animal Studies
Our regional titles showcase the history and beauty of Indiana. Enjoy stunning photos of Indiana’s striking landscapes and scenery. Adventure into outer space with the memoirs of one of Indiana and Purdue’s first astronauts. Dig deeper into our agricultural history and learn about extension farming.
Calculated Risk: The Supersonic Life and Times of Gus Grissom
“George Leopold’s Calculated Risk: The Supersonic Life and Times of Gus Grissom rescues its subject’s reputation by presenting his life and career in full. The book is fascinating and haunting, and its impressive research exonerates Grissom from the charge of being a hapless astronaut who, in his peers’ parlance, ‘screwed the pooch’ . . . thrillingly told, taking readers into the cosmos with Grissom, conveying the sense of wonder and danger that accompanied these early voyages.”
—The Wall Street Journal
Calculated Risk is an Official Endorsed Legacy Project for Indiana’s Bicentennial.
Enriching the Hoosier Farm Family: A Photo History of Indiana’s Early County Extension Agents
Indiana’s rich agricultural history is brought to life in this new regional book. Follow the story of early extension agents on their journey through rural Indiana in never before seen photos. These agents worked hand in hand with local farmers to improve agricultural practices across the state with research from Purdue and other institutions. This book is an officially endorsed legacy project for Indiana’s Bicentennial.
“Tony Garel-Frantzen sketches a vivid portrait of iconic cartoonist and correspondent John T. McCutcheon during a time when newsprint left an indelible mark on the public consciousness.”
–Tom Wolfermann, Chicago Essayist and Humanist
Forthcoming September 2016! A Place Called Turkey Run: A Celebration of Indiana’s Second State Park in Photographs and Words
“Daniel Shepardson has created a masterpiece of stunning photography coupled with a narrative which explains the natural history of one of Indiana’s most beloved parks.”
–Daniel W. Bortner, Director, Indiana State Parks
A Place Called Turkey Run is an Official Endorsed Legacy Project for Indiana’s Bicentennial.
We have published a wide range of books in Languages and Literature. Discover the humanistic perspectives of terrorism or the secularization of modern French Literature.
Learn more of life within the Jewish Labor Bund during interwar Poland in our newest book in Jewish Studies.
Re-Visioning Terrorism: A Humanistic Perspective
This collection of interdisciplinary essays offers a broad range of perspectives on terrorism. It provides philosophical interpretations, historical analysis, and narrative representations of terror in a modern light.
“This work is significant to both scholarship and public enlightenment insofar as it touches upon a topic that, in the current period of world instability, has never been more timely, and analyzes it with an innovative approach.”
—Nicoletta Pireddu, Associate Professor, Department of Italian and Comparative Literature Program Georgetown University
Reconsidering the Emergence of the Gay Novel in English and German
“In Reconsidering the Emergence of the Gay Novel in English and German, James P. Wilper presents a freshly nuanced view of gay literature at what was, arguably, the most crucial time in its development. By the simple expedient of comparing four distinctive novels, two in English and two in German, Wilper gets to the heart of a debate that resonates even today. Wilper’s subtle and economical book casts light not only on their fiction, but on the social history it represents.”
–Gregory Woods, Nottingham Trent University
Confronting Evil: The Psychology of Secularization in Modern French Literature
“This book is a fascinating study of how four influential modern French authors have wrestled with spirituality and secularization in coming to grips with the problem of evil.”
–Johnathan Krell, University of Georgia
Forthcoming August 2016! Cultural Exchanges between Brazil and France
Explore the historic relationship between France and Brazil through original interdisciplinary essays. This is the first and only collection of studies between the two nations that addresses their interactions in various disciplines and discourses. It broadens the global perspectives in the field of international relations.
Twenty Years with the Jewish Labor Bund: A Memoir of Interwar Poland
Understand the human-animal bond and the politics surrounding our four-legged companions in our new books a part within the category of Veterinary Studies. Be prepared for veterinary school and the requirements necessary for admission.
“Free Market Dogs opens our minds to the dramatic changes in Polish people’s relationships with dogs following the fall of communist control of Eastern Europe, when Western ideas poured into Poland after years of restriction. Readers will be surprised by the ways that culture, nationality, and legislation can dramatically change how we think about and experience our so often intimate relationships with dogs, and moved by the deep feelings that are present in our centuries-old friendship with them. While maintaining a focus on Poland, Free Market Dogs delivers a story of universal appeal to those who love dogs.”
–Robert W. Mitchell, Foundation Professor of Psychology and Animal Studies, Eastern Kentucky University
“By concentrating specifically on companion animals, Professors Hunter and Brisbin provide a unique and insightful contribution to the burgeoning field of human-animal studies. In addition to its scholarly impact, this book is ideal for graduate or upper-level undergraduate courses in political science, sociology, and human-animal studies.”
–Steven Tauber, Chair, Department of Government & International Affairs, University of South Florida, and author of Navigating the Jungle: Law, Politics, and the Animal Advocacy Movement
Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements: 2016 Edition for 2017 Matriculation
“We understand that getting started and making sense of all the choices and requirements can be challenging, but you’ve come to the right place by accessing this publication, which provides the essential information you need to begin your journey.”
–Dr. Andrew McCabe, Executive Director of AAVMC
The newest books on Business and Library Sciences provide an understanding of research, teaching, and management.
Project & Program Management: A Competency Based Approach, Third Edition
In its 3rd Edition, Project and Program Management sheds light on new insights gained from teaching and research. This edition focuses more on the qualitative nature of program management to broaden the readers understanding of key concepts. It also uses learning scenarios to show different approaches to instruction.
Laying the Foundation: Digital Humanities in Academic Libraries
“Laying the Foundation: Digital Humanities in Academic Libraries is the approachable collection of digital humanities writings we’ve been waiting for. All types of librarians interacting with the humanities will find this book a practical reference and a step toward the future. Laying the Foundation further introduces digital humanities as a function of all libraries-for the good of our collective future. The experiences and case studies contributed to this book will no doubt become the building blocks of programs in public and academic libraries.”
–Emma Molls Scholarly Communication and Social Sciences & Humanities Librarian Iowa State University Library
May 9th, 2016
Purdue’s first astronaut alumnus, Hoosier native, and National hero Gus Grissom died nearly 50 years ago in the pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 
mission along with astronauts Ed White and fellow Purdue alumnus Roger Chaffee. Calculated Risk: The Supersonic Life and Times of Gus Grissom draws on extensive interviews with fellow astronauts, NASA engineers, family members, and friends of Gus Grissom. Veteran technology journalist and science writer, George Leopold, delivers a comprehensive survey of Grissom’s life that places his career in the context of the Cold War and the history of human spaceflight. Calculated Risk will be published and available in early June, however the book will be launched this week at several events in Chicago, Lafayette, and Indianapolis.
May 11-13, Purdue University Press will feature Calculated Risk at the BookExpo America in Chicago via the Bookmasters/AtlasBooks exhibit (booth #900). On Friday, May 13 the author will be signing books at 1pm CST in the BEA autographing section. Afterward Leopold will participate in a 2:15pm livestream interview with Authors’ Voice where listeners can ask questions (before or during the interview) and purchase autographed copies of the book.
On Saturday, May 14, George Leopold will be signing Calculated Risk at Main Street Books in downtown Lafayette from 10:30-11:30am; on the same day he will sign books in downtown Indianapolis at Indy Reads Books from 3:00-4:00pm.
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