It is the purpose of the Patten Foundation to attract men and women whose contribution to the sciences, the humanities, the arts, or to the understanding of human affairs is outstanding. Representing every field of human knowledge and endeavor, past Patten Lecturers have included Jorge Luis Borges, Noam Chomsky, Natalie Zemon Davis, Umberto Eco, John Hope Franklin, Fred Hoyle, Julian S. Huxley, Evelyn Fox Keller, Sir Edmund Leach, Marvin Minsky, Toni Morrison, Edwin Reischauer, Helmuth Rilling, Edward Said, Wole Soyinka, Ren Thom, Lester Thurow, and Edward O. Wilson. The Patten Committee invites two kinds of nominations for the academic year 2001-2002 and would like to be kept informed of prospects and developments that might lead to nominations in future years. Patten Lecturers ordinarily spend a week on the Bloomington campus, delivering two public lectures that appeal to a general audience, and meeting with interested faculty and students in classes and in informal gatherings. The Committee welcomes the nomination of persons who have recently retired and who may have more time for a residence appointment.
Stipend is negotiable.
Well-documented nominations should include letters of support from members of the nominating department as well as letters from members of the campus community in fields adjacent to the nominee's area of specialty. The Committee is especially interested in nominations of qualified women and minorities.