Mason Peck, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Elizabeth Bilson, former administrative director of space sciences, Peter Thomas, a visiting scientist at the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, and Philip Nicholson, professor of astronomy and deputy director of the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, comment on the upcoming 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Arts and Sciences

Engineering

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Jane Juffer, English professor and director of undergraduate studies in the Program of Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies, says the episode suggests that identity might not matter as much to children as having a safe space to express themselves.

Arts & Humanities

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Noliwe Rooks, professor of American studies at Cornell University and author of the book “Cutting School: Privatization, Segregation, and The End of Public Education,” says that segregation persists in American schools in large part due to white parents’ unwillingness to send their children to schools where they would have Black classmates.

Social & Behavioral Sciences

Law and Policy

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This week marks the start of honey bee swarm season in New York. As the spring weather gets warmer and flowers begin to bloom, bees and other pollinators are starting to emerge. Emma Mullen, Cornell University’s Senior Honey Bee Extension Associate, encourages people to be on the lookout for honey bee swarms and to report them, so beekeepers can give them the best chance for survival.  

Agriculture and Life Sciences

Energy, Environment & Sustainability

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On Monday, Amazon announced it would offer incentives to employees who quit their jobs at the company to start a business delivering Amazon package. The move is the enhancement of a program that began over a year ago to speed up Amazon’s shipping times, but it also comes with added benefits for Amazon, says Rick Geddes, professor of policy analysis and management at Cornell University and author of “Saving the Mail: How to Solve the Problems of the U.S. Postal Service.”

Economics and Business

Human Ecology

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Héctor Abruña, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Cornell University and an expert on batteries and energy storage technology, comments on the technology behind 'salt batteries.'

Arts and Sciences

Physical Sciences & Engineering

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On Thursday, Pope Francis announced new norms for the Catholic Church’s internal handling of sexual abuse accusations. The law, titled ‘Vos estis lux mundi,’ sets global standards for officials who report and investigate sexual abuse allegations against clergy, and offers protection for whistleblowers. Kim Haines-Eitzen, professor of religious studies at Cornell University, says that the law is a step towards more accountability.

International

Arts and Sciences

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Robert Shepherd, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cornell University, comments on the benefits of soft robots for space exploration.

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Engineering

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In Walmart’s first social responsibility report, released this week, the company outlined its commitment to sustainable growth and reported a few key figures, including employee compensations. Wages for Walmart’s average employee are growing, according to the report. The retail giant is also investing in training and education programs. Hyunseob Kim studies corporate finance and labor economics at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, where he focuses on the effects of corporate governance and investment on wages and productivity. Kim says that Walmart is responding to an increasingly tight labor market.

Economics and Business

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

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Doug Kriner, professor in Cornell University’s Government Department, says that the conflict over the Mueller report threatens the balance of power between the presidency and Congress.

Law and Policy

Cornell in DC

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