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.


Metal-loving microbes savor green way to refine rare earth

Cornell scientists have replaced the harsh chemical processing of rare earth elements – used to power electric cars, wind turbines and smartphones – with a benign practice called biosorption.

Global center promises design solutions for warming world

A Cornell-led project team – with Global Hubs partners in India, the U.K, Ghana and Singapore – has received a two-year $250,000 design grant from the National Science Foundation to bring more comfortable days and nights to homes everywhere.

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Cornell AgriTech summer program draws undergrads from across US

Now in its 15th year, Cornell AgriTech’s Summer Research Scholars Program provides hands-on research experience for undergraduate students.

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Lake Source Cooling brings sustainability, precision to synchrotron

Wilson Synchrotron Laboratory has tapped into the university’s Lake Source Cooling system, which uses cold water from Cayuga Lake to remove heat from the district chilled water loop that cools most Cornell facilities.

Klarman Fellow: Capturing carbon with future-focused chemistry

Alexa Easley is working to develop materials for low-energy carbon capture that are organic and easy to make on large scales and in realistic conditions.

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Digitization program calls for proposals

Interested in creating lasting digital collections? The library invites expressions of interest by Oct. 1; with full proposals due Nov. 1.

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High school students explore the language of plants

The CATALYST Academy engineering program at Cornell teamed up with CROPPS to discover how engineering and technology play major roles in plant science and agriculture.

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Cornell-EDF projects to study extreme urban heat, ag sustainability

The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability launches two new research partnerships with EDF. 

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Cornell to lead carbon-cutting effort in aluminum recycling

A new Cornell-led project aims to use and reduce carbon dioxide emissions and residue from aluminum recycling – a carbon-heavy process – to produce high value products and address climate change.