About the Institute

The mission of the Harvey Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute at Colgate University is to foster the creation of new knowledge that is obtainable only through the development of sustained interdisciplinary research. The institute supports internal and external collaborations among Colgate faculty and their collaborators who bring expertise from disparate disciplines to bear on current and emerging scientific problems that remain intractable to the methods used within a single discipline.

The institute also encourages interdisciplinary approaches to learning through innovative curricular and research opportunities for students that may arise from the pursuit of interdisciplinary research projects.

The primary goal of the institute is to enhance faculty scholarship in interdisciplinary areas leading to the generation of new knowledge. An important secondary goal is to encourage interdisciplinary approaches to learning. The actions of the institute are guided by these goals, and the additional objectives listed below:

• An increase in interdisciplinary publications in peer-reviewed journals and an increase in professional presentations.
• An increase in submission and success of extramural proposals, particularly collaborative proposals.
• An increase in the percentage of newly enrolled students who indicate an interest in concentrating in the sciences and mathematics.
• An increase in the number of students enrolled in science and mathematics courses, and in the number of graduating concentrators in the sciences and mathematics.
• An increase in the number of science and mathematics graduates who pursue graduate and professional study.
• An increase in interdisciplinarity in the science curriculum as measured by the introduction of new interdisciplinary science and mathematics courses.

In working toward these goals, the institute advances opportunities for high-quality faculty scholarship, facilitates communication and collaboration between Colgate faculty and experts at other institutions, and further raises the profile of research in the sciences and mathematics at Colgate.

The institute supports internal and external collaborations among Colgate faculty and their collaborators who bring expertise from different disciplines to bear on current and emerging scientific problems that remain intractable to the methods used within a single discipline. The institute also encourages interdisciplinary approaches to learning through innovative curricular and research opportunities for students that may arise from the pursuit of interdisciplinary research projects.

The Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute was established in 2006 through the generous support of Harvey M. Picker, a trustee emeritus.

Harvey Picker's broad appreciation for all areas of intellectual inquiry can be seen in Colgate’s initiatives that bear his family’s name: the Jean Picker Chair, in memory of his wife, who served as ambassador to the United Nations and as a trustee of Colgate; the Harvey Picker Scholarship; the Picker Classroom in the Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology; the Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute; and the Picker Art Gallery, named for Picker himself in 1936, when his parents, James and Evelyn, established a scholarship in his honor.

During his time at Colgate, Picker was a physics major and a member of Sigma Chi and Masque and Triangle, the university’s student theater organization. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and attended Oxford University and Harvard University, where he earned his master’s degree in business administration with distinction. 

Picker served as a lieutenant commander in the U. S. Navy during World War II before joining the Picker Corp., founded by his father, James Picker. He was chief executive officer of the company, manufacturers of X-ray and nuclear instruments, from 1946 until 1968 and remained chairman of the board until 1982. His scientific achievements include the development of ultrasound prenatal scans, several types of radiotherapy treatments, and portable X-ray units.

A true lifelong learner in the Colgate tradition, Picker returned to Columbia University at age 50 to earn his doctorate and, following two years as an adjunct professor at Colgate, served as dean of the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. In 1983, Harvey retired from his position to devote himself to charitable projects and a wide variety of public service projects. 

Most notable was his creation of the concept of patient-centered health care through the Picker Institute, a not-for-profit entity with offices in the United States, German, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

A recipient of an honorary degree from Colgate in 1969, Picker was a charter member of the James B. Colgate Society and a recipient of the Maroon Citation and the Wm. Brian Little ’64 Alumni Award for Distinguished Service.

In the 21st century, the frontiers of scientific inquiry will increasingly be found at the boundaries of the traditional disciplines. The dynamic areas of environmental science, biophysics, planetary science, biochemistry, and nanoscience are examples of such interdisciplinary frontiers. To study complex systems, scientists will need expertise and the ability to forge collaborative relationships that span multiple disciplines. The preparation of future scientists must also be mindful of growing demands for increasingly broad training, as today’s students must be able to address tomorrow’s problems that will often lie at the frontiers and boundaries of science.

Colgate is well positioned to embrace new frontiers of discovery and learning. The institute's commitment to the promotion of interdisciplinary science on campus strengthens the university's standing as a leader in scientific inquiry and undergraduate science education. This was the goal of the institute's founder, Harvey M. Picker '36.