Energy, Environment & Sustainability

Cornell is a global leader in sustainability and climate change research, teaching and engagement. Our campuses are living laboratories for developing, testing and implementing solutions that address these most challenging issues.


Just add sun: McGovern startup converts CO2 into fuel

A greenhouse gas may soon get a public relations makeover, as Cornell startup Dimensional Energy has developed a way to add sunlight to carbon dioxide to create an environmentally friendly fuel.

Cross-college Program in Environment and Sustainability launches

Starting this fall, the Environmental and Sustainability Sciences major will become available to CALS and College of Arts and Sciences students.

Trace metals make a big splash with marine microorganisms

A new study shows trace metals, deposited by aerosols in the atmosphere, have a hefty impact on marine biota, affecting biological productivity.

Golf turf expert wins posthumous award for NY impact

Bob Portmess, MPS ’08, who died in 2016 at age 60, earned a posthumous Excellence in IPM Award from New York State Integrated Pest Management Aug. 10.

American literature scholar kicks off Botanic Gardens’ lecture series Aug. 29

Cornell historian George Hutchinson will deliver the 2018 William and Jane Torrence Harder Lecture Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 5:30 p.m. in Call Auditorium.

Campaign aims to bring climate science to every US high school

The Paleontological Research Institution and the university’s Sea Grant program raising funds to bring climate change science to every U.S. high school.

Nonnative zooplankton species found in Lake Erie

Cornell aquatic taxonomists have detected two new nonnative zooplankton species in the Great Lakes – their fourth such discovery in the past two years.

NSF awards BTI $1M to study plant-bacteria symbiosis

The NSF has awarded a $1.1 million grant to the Cornell-affiliated Boyce Thompson Institute to unlock the scientific complexities between nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria and its alliance with plants.

Cornellians vie for $2.5M in clean-energy competition

Four teams of Cornellians were among 20 finalists showcasing bold, cutting-edge startups that have the potential to revolutionize the future of energy at the 76West Clean Energy Competition July 31-Aug. 1.