Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability

We are thrilled to announce Emily Bernhardt, Ph.D. ‘01 as the next Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, effective September 1! Welcome back to Cornell, Emily! 🎉 📌 Read more: news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0…

Cornell Nuclear is Clean Energy (NiCE) — a newly formed student group — is embracing nuclear technology to fight climate change and create jobs, with support from Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability (@atkinsoncenter) “Nuclear is something that I’m very passionate about because we have such a growing energy demand,” said Diana Michaelson ’27, founding member of NiCE, “and I genuinely think it’s the only way to meet our energy goals.” Nuclear energy is having a moment, according to Shaun Doherty, energy transition and carbon management partnerships lead at Cornell Atkinson. In June 2025, Gov. Kathy Hochul committed to building a new, zero-emission nuclear power plant in Upstate New York, along with other projects designed to catalyze nuclear energy development. The plans are not without controversy, however, and groups like NiCE are working to address public concerns around safety, environmental impact and nuclear waste. Renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal are part of the transition away from fossil fuels, Doherty said, but those sources are intermittently available and not dispatchable any time. “Renewables like wind and solar are essential, but they’re variable,” he said. “Firm, carbon-free power like nuclear can reduce the amount of excess renewable capacity, storage and transmission needed in a clean grid. Many studies show that including nuclear can lower overall system costs while improving reliability.” Learn more about NiCE at news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0….

📢📢 Please share in your networks! We are hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Cornell Global AI Initiative at @Cornell_Bowers. The Cornell Global AI Initiative brings together researchers across disciplines to study how AI systems shape societies and to develop approaches that ensure these technologies are pluralistic and responsive to diverse communities. The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to research in areas such as Human-Centered AI, Community-Centered AI, Responsible AI, AI and Culture, and AI Safety, with particular attention to the impacts of AI technologies in global and underserved contexts. The postdoc will conduct research and publish in top venues, collaborate with faculty and students affiliated with the initiative, and help organize activities and shape the research agenda on Global AI. Application deadline: April 20, 2026 (rolling review). Early applications are strongly encouraged. Full details: academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31821 @whynotyet @LeeHumphreys @AyhamBoucher @ang3linawang @allisonkoe

Join us for an important conversation at the intersection of nutrition, science, and public policy.  Internationally recognized nutrition policy scholar, Marion Nestle will examine the political forces shaping the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. bit.ly/47nR4Nh

@Cornell @CornellResearch Learn more about how Giving Day helps Cornell Atkinson support fuels bold ideas to address the world's most urgent sustainability challenges: vimeo.com/1071178816

@Cornell Giving Day is HERE! 🎉 Today, your gift *no matter the size* fuels Cornell Atkinson's mission to address the planet’s most urgent climate and sustainability challenges through student and faculty research. 🌳 Give today: givingday.cornell.edu/organizations/…

Farmers today face growing risks—from climate change & extreme weather to volatile markets & rising costs. Meeting these challenges requires stronger connections between research, finance & the ag sector. Learn how we work w/ partners to make an impact: news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0…

On and off campus, students in @Cornell NiCE (Nuclear is Clean Energy) open dialogue on nuclear energy generation across industries + bring together experts to talk about the future of nuclear. ⬇️ Learn more about the students @CornellBPP @CornellEng news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0…

Save the date, Cornellians! 🎉 @Cornell Giving Day is March 12! Together, we can support student & faculty research tackling urgent climate and sustainability challenges and help Cornell University continue to do the greatest good. @CornellAlumni givingday.cornell.edu

Going nuclear: The newly formed student group @Cornell Nuclear is Clean Energy (NiCE) is embracing nuclear technology to fight climate change and create jobs. @AtkinsonCenter @CornellBPP @GovKathyHochul @NYSERDA @ENERGY news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0…

Module 1 of the Resilient Futures Leadership Program ✅ What a great time w/ @FieldtoMarket + 29 inaugural cohort members! Highlights include grounding the cohort in systems thinking for sustainable ag finance + Commodity Classic Systems Lab. 📍Next stop, Ithaca @Cornell

New on the Sustainability Insights blog: David Lodge reflects on growing public distrust of universities, and argues that higher education must clearly define and defend its purpose. 📌atkinson.cornell.edu/blog/universit…

On Wednesday, we wrapped up Module 1 of the Resilient Futures Leadership Program: Financing Sustainable Agriculture with a powerful final day focused on decision-making, partnership, and putting ideas into action. On to Module 2 in April with @AtkinsonCenter. 🌱

Introducing The Little Book of Nature Business! 📖 As a guide for investors, businesses & policymakers, the book showcases innovations spanning 8 sectors w/ potential to scale and support the global transition toward a US$10tn nature-positive economy. ➡️globalcanopy.org/insights/publi…

Module 1 of the Resilient Futures Leadership Program: Financing Sustainable Agriculture begins TONIGHT with a Welcome Reception. Tomorrow, our cohort will begin their journey, learning from a series of experts on topics including ag policy, ag finance, & more. @AtkinsonCenter

Published in @NatureClimate, this detailed emissions portrait gives policymakers, researchers, and communities the data needed to design tailored mitigation strategies. @Cornell @GlobalFoodTeam @CornellRsrch

In 2020, croplands emitted the equivalent of 2.5 gigatons of CO₂. East Asia and Pacific account for about 50% of the total, followed by South Asia, Europe and Central Asia, which collectively contributed 30%.

@CornellCALS researchers have developed the most detailed global maps to date of greenhouse gas emissions from croplands, tracing emissions by crop type and source at roughly 10-kilometer resolution. 🧵news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0…

🧵Why are food prices so high, and how can we meet growing demand while keeping food safe? @CornellRsrch