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.


Cornell Cooperative Extension to hold public sessions on Marcellus Shale exploration

Cornell Cooperative Extension will host public meetings across New York's Southern Tier in July and August to educate residents about the development of natural gas production in the Marcellus Shale. (July 9, 2009)

Graduate students report on need for interdisciplinary environmental research

An innovative Cornell program may offer a model for interdisciplinary environmental research in an academic system where research across departments is challenging at best, according to a recent paper. (July 8, 2009)

'Lab on a chip' to give growers real-time glimpse into water stress in plants

Embedded microsensors being developed at Cornell will measure water stress in grapevines and will help vintners strike the precise balance between drought and overwatering. (July 6, 2009)

University cited for best practices in transportation

Cornell University has been ranked a top 25 employer for its transportation practices, which encourage greener commuting and other energy-reduction efforts. (July 2, 2009)

Three faculty members invited to National Academy of Engineering symposium

The 15th annual symposium will feature 88 engineers between the ages of 30 and 45 who are performing 'exceptional engineering research and technical work in a variety of disciplines.'

Skorton to speak at Ethiopian university's graduation on East Africa trip

President David Skorton will visit Ethiopia, Tanzania and Rwanda during a two-week trip, beginning July 1. Skorton will speak at the Bahir Dar University graduation and discuss opportunities for collaboration. (June 25, 2009)

Biofuels Research Lab officially opens

The $6 million, 11,000-square-foot facility in Riley Robb Hall will be used to develop renewable energy sources from such nonfood crops as switchgrass, sorghum and willow. (June 24, 2009)

Bio-acoustic recorders could answer question: Do wind farms pose risks to migratory birds?

At the Cornell Workshop on Large-Scale Wind-Generated Power on June 13, researchers proposed using bio-acoustic and radar technology to address whether wind turbines pose risks to billions of night-flying birds. (June 23, 2009)

World use of fertilizer varies wildly and threatens environment, says professor

In a Science policy forum piece, co-author Laurie Drinkwater says that fertilizer is often used way too much or too little across the world, and both extremes have substantial human and environmental costs. (June 19, 2009)