Birck Builds the Future

Birck Builds the Future: Celebrating Twenty Years at Purdue University, 2005–2025 commemorates the vision, innovation, and enduring impact of the Birck Nanotechnology Center. This richly detailed volume traces Birck’s journey from a bold idea—sparked by the urgent need for state-of-the-art facilities to support cutting-edge nanoscale research—to its emergence as a global leader in semiconductors and quantum research. The book highlights the center’s founding under Purdue’s then-president Martin Jischke and its role as the anchor of Discovery Park, a hub designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across the fields of engineering, science, pharmacy, and agriculture. Featuring contributions from early visionaries, faculty, staff, and students, the narrative blends personal reflections, historical milestones, and technological breakthroughs. It also chronicles the tenures of Birck’s five directors—Jim Cooper, Richard Schwartz, Tim Sands, Ali Shakouri, and Zhihong Chen—capturing how each leader shaped the center’s evolution. Replete with vivid photographs and architectural insights, the book celebrates two decades of transformative research, education, and industry partnership. As Birck enters its third decade—propelled by a $100 million renovation supported by the Purdue Board of Trustees, Purdue President Mung Chiang, Lilly Endowment Inc., and CHIPS Act funding—it stands as a cornerstone of the university’s innovation ecosystem, preparing the next generation of researchers and shaping the future of nanotechnology.