Purdue also boasts one of the largest fraternity and sorority systems in the country. Purdue University's Department of Building Construction and Contracting has the only indoor laboratory, which can provide outdoor field experience for students. Wheat yields have more than doubled in the past 20 years because of improved varieties developed at Purdue University by Purdue and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers. Laboratory, dedicated to computer security, is the largest academic computer security research group in the world. The center maintains close ties to researchers and engineers in major companies and government agencies.
Research is focused on real-world needs and limitations.
Purdue University has developed 24 improved soft red winter wheat varieties and 19 spring oats varieties since 1950. Purdue-developed wheat varieties are grown on more than 80 percent of the U.S. acreage planted in soft red winter wheat. Researchers in Purdue's School of Nuclear Engineering designed and operate the only facility in the county used to test the design of the next generation of nuclear reactors. Purdue University has the largest apple-breeding program in the world. Purdue's Department of Biological Sciences is recognized worldwide for its studies on the structures of viruses.