Conference on African political economy honors van de Walle

“Politics, Markets, and Governance in Africa: A conference in honor of Nicolas van de Walle,” set for May 8-9, will focus on the core themes of African political economy, regimes, and modes of electoral and social participation and contestation. 

Around Cornell

Students help rural Peruvians grow turmeric business

The business students traveled to a rural region of Peru to brainstorm sustainable business ideas for a local community.

Poet Ishion Hutchinson tilts into expansive essay writing

Award-winning poet Ishion Hutchinson is making his prose debut with his first essay collection, which brings together two decades’ worth of probing reflections on his childhood in Jamaica, the country’s cultural and colonial history and his maturation as a writer.

‘Robotability score’ ranks NYC streets for future robot deployment

The rating system is the first of its kind and may help urban planners and robotics companies plan for future robot deployments that won’t disrupt existing sidewalk environments.

Paul Gaurnier, emeritus professor, former associate dean, dies at 101

Paul L. Gaurnier ’50, M.S. ’56, emeritus professor and former associate dean in the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, died Feb. 9 in Tucson, Arizona. He was 101.

Don Hartill, longtime physics professor, Lansing mayor, dies at 86

Donald Hartill, a professor of physics emeritus in the College of Arts and Sciences and a driving force behind decades of experimental research in particle physics, died on April 16. He was 86.

Ballet icon to deliver Senior Convocation address May 22

Misty Copeland, who in 2015 became the first Black woman to be named principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre, will give the keynote address at Senior Convocation on May 22, from 1-2:30 p.m. in Barton Hall.

Durland Lecture focuses on redefining shared prosperity in private equity

Henry Kravis, cofounder and co-executive chairman of KKR & Co., delivered the 2025 Lewis H. Durland Memorial Lecture April 22 in Statler Auditorium.

Evolution of pugs and Persians converges on cuteness

Humans have bred pug dogs and Persian cats to evolve with very similar skulls and “smushed” faces, so they’re more similar to each other than they are to most other dogs or cats.