Neil Murphy is looking forward to looking back.

‘It’s very common for an institution that’s undergoing a centennial to begin celebrating by looking back,’ said Murphy, president of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

ESF began celebrating the 100-year anniversary of becoming part of the Syracuse University campus in January. The college came to SU in 1911 with 52 students, two faculty members and Hugh Baker, ESF dean at the time.

The eight ESF centennial seminars, which are also being offered as a one-credit course to ESF students, begin Feb. 14 and will be held throughout the semester until March 9. ESF students, alumni, faculty, staff and the public are welcome to sit in on the discussions as well.

Topics for the eight seminars range from covering the history of ESF, the college’s involvement with President Franklin Roosevelt, trends in environmental and forest biology, and looking toward ESF’s future.

The seminars aim to teach students an understanding of the college’s history, future goals and awareness of ESF’s mission and culture, according to the ESF website.

Murphy will be covering ESF’s future. As ESF president, Murphy serves on the Centennial Committee and said he was asked if he would like to be included in the seminars.

In ESF’s 100 years on campus, much has happened, including many research projects and the college’s strategic Vision 20/20 plan for the environment, Murphy said. He hopes ESF’s success will continue, he said. The college has 48 research projects outside the United States and one research project happening on every continent.

Hugh Canham, professor emeritus of forest and resources management, will be teaching the first lecture on Feb. 14 about the history of ESF. Although he is retired as an emeritus professor, he is still participating because he believes strongly the history of ESF is ‘a very important and fascinating subject,’ Canham said in e-mail.

Canham will be covering material similar to what he presented in the first two Centennial Convocations on Jan. 20 and 21 but with added detail tailored to students.

Topics in Canham’s session will include the broadening definition of forestry, the inclusion of women at the college starting in the 1950s, the expansion of the physical plant and the reasons for new buildings, he said. Student anecdotes from the 1950s will also be part of the lecture.

Partnering with students and educating them on the college’s history and future is an important part of ensuring ESF will have a strong century ahead, Murphy said.

Said Murphy: ‘It’s our responsibility to do the research and educate our young people.’

dkmcbrid@syr.edu

 

Published on February 5, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Dara: dkmcbrid@syr.edu | @daramcbride