Make our small, pale blue planet a greener place: Cornell’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future (ACSF) announces the 2014 cycle for its Academic Venture Fund.

Internal to Cornell, this program stimulates new, original, multidisciplinary research in sustainability, emphasizing work that has the potential to involve external partners such as industry, government, foundations and other nongovernmental organizations. Since 2008 more than 200 researchers from 49 Cornell departments have received about $4.5 million in grants funding 54 projects.

ACSF seeks proposals from all of Cornell’s colleges and schools that encompass disciplines contributing to sustainability. Letters of intent must be filed by Feb. 24 with full proposals due March 24.

Potential applicants can attend a question-and-answer session Wednesday, March 12, at 3:30 p.m. in 300 Rice Hall. Contact Paula Euvrard to register. Applicants are urged to contact an ACSF faculty director to discuss potential submissions.