Stories

Hoverboard frames varying in style, rigidity and strength across models.

‘Garbatrage’ spins e-waste into prototyping gold

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.

STARS platinum rating

Cornell earns fourth platinum sustainability rating

For four years in a row, Cornell has earned a platinum sustainability rating—the top status—from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the international group that tracks environmental stewardship for more than 1,000 college campuses.

Commitment to Sustainability

Research and engagement

Two of 50 Cornell experimental ponds.

Ponds release more greenhouse gas than they store

Though human-made ponds both sequester and release greenhouse gases, when added up, they may be net emitters, according to two related studies by Cornell researchers.
Stacked cubes of crushed cans sit in a warehouse.

Cornell to lead carbon-cutting effort in aluminum recycling

A new Cornell-led project aims to use carbon dioxide emissions and residue from aluminum recycling – a carbon-heavy process – to produce high value products.
A city cast in orange light with an exploding thermometer in the foreground.

New modeling method helps to understand extreme heat waves

To prepare for extreme heat waves around the world, running climate-simulation models may save tens of thousands of lives.
Alexa Schmitz co-founder and CEO of REEgen, talks with Brooke Pian, lab director at REEgen, at the Center for Life Science Ventures in Weill Hall.

Researchers commercialize rare-earth tech with I-Corps help

Cornell researchers-turned-entrepreneurs are commercializing a technology with the potential to upend the rare-earth elements industry – with implications for sustainability and even national security.

Thought Leaders in Sustainability

Sustainability and social justice

Linda Shi studies how to plan for urban climate adaptation in ways that improve environmental sustainability and social justice.

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Disasters and geospatial analysis

Alistair Hayden aims to help communities increase their disaster preparedness and resilience using geospatial analysis.

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Science fiction and the environment

Anindita Banerjee focuses on science fiction and technocultural studies, environmental humanities and migration studies.

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Labor and Climate

Lara Skinner is an expert on labor and employment issues related to sustainability, climate protection and clean energy.

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Sustainability, Law and Policy

Sara Bronin examines how law and policy can foster more equitable, sustainable, well-designed and connected places.

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agricultural sustainability

Ariel Ortiz-Bobea is an expert on how to promote environmental sustainability at the local level.

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SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Fengqi You focuses on developing models and tools for smart manufacturing, digital agriculture, energy systems and sustainability.

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MARINE ECOLOGY

Drew Harvell studies the sustainability of marine ecosystems and the impacts of climate and ocean change.

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ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Max Zhang studies sustainable energy systems and the effects of nanoparticle pollution on air quality and climate change.

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For more thought leaders in sustainability, contact:

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Our campuses are living laboratories for sustainability and climate change research.