Celebrate 100 years of Biology at Notre Dame!

Join us during the year-long celebration of our 100th anniversary! *

The University of Notre Dame offered botany and zoology courses since the institution was founded — beginning with Brother Augustine (Jeremiah O'Leary) C.S.C.'s course in both sciences from 1844-1845. Though the sciences were separated from the liberal arts program in 1864, with distinguished botanist Fr. Joseph Carrier leading the so-called "Scientific Department," it was not until the University's colleges were reorganized in the 1920s that Biology became its own, officially recognized department.

From the inception of the department in the 1920s through 1936,  the number of faculty increased from just five to nine. Since that time the department has been home to hundreds of faculty and thousands of students who published significant papers, earned significant research and teaching awards, and were named to the National Academy of Sciences.

We have several talks and other special events planned for 2025! We look forward to having you celebrate with us.

Talks include:

Wednesday, March 5: Steven Carpenter, Ph.D., Limnology | Restoring Water Quality for People and Nature: Stories and Models

Wednesday, April 2: Hilary Ranson, Ph.D., Vector Biology,  6 p.m. 105 Jordan Hall of Science | The Power of a Simple Bednet

Wednesday, August 27: Susan Lynch, Ph.D., Microbiome, 6 p.m. 105 Jordan Hall of Science | The Human Microbiome: A New Frontier in Health

Wednesday, October 1: Zhijan "James" Chen, Ph.D. Biochemistry, 6 p.m. 105 Jordan Hall of Science | The Enemy Within: How does the immune system sense DNA as danger?