The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has identified four priority areas that are fluid, overlapping, and interdependent, connecting the college's mission and vision to the areas of academic strength and excellence. These four areas of academic priority are: 1) Land-Grant Mission, 2) Applied Social Sciences, 3) Environmental Sciences, and 4) New Life Sciences.
Land-Grant Mission
The College has a firm commitment to the Land-Grant Mission that has been the foundation of Cornell University's academic mission since its inception. The land-grant mission intersects with the College's other three academic priorities -- applied social sciences, environmental sciences, and new life sciences -- to provide research and extension that benefits the citizens, communities, and economic well-being of the state of New York.
Agriculture is the College's unique contribution to Cornell's land-grant mission. We conduct both applied and basic research and extension. We also address the needs of the state of New York through academic programs directed at training students for leadership roles in industries of critical importance to the Empire State and beyond.
Applied Social Sciences
Applied Social Sciences provide the means to translate our work into the public good, particularly in more technical areas like the life and environmental sciences. This includes informing public policies, increasing awareness of the role of technology and science in society, influencing the way we think of public policy and economic development, and making use of potentially beneficial technological developments.
The College's involvement in the applied social sciences is most evident through our programs in development economics, business, communication, education, and development sociology.
Environmental Sciences
As part of a movement to elevate the environmental sciences to a university-wide priority, the College has made the Environmental Sciences a priority. Environmental studies are essential to the land-grant mission and focus on some of the most important issue facing society now and in the future. Land stewardship and concern for environmental issues were part of Liberty Hyde Bailey's original vision in 1904.
Programs in natural resources, earth systems, environmental engineering, sustainable agriculture, and waste management have enabled the College to take the lead in several university research initiatives, including bio-based industries, energy and the environment, agriculture and the environment, and detection and remediation of pollutants.
New Life Sciences
The College plays a lead role in the New Life Sciences initiative spearheaded by Cornell University. The college provides faculty leadership in this key initiative and contributes to the research diversity in topics such as improving the food supply, food safety, health, the environment, business and the economy, as well as exploring the ethical, legal, and social issues involved in these new technologies.
Our strength in the plant sciences makes us unique, not only for our excellence, but for our focus on agriculturally important species and issues. Our emphasis in animal genomics encompasses production agriculture as well as basic science. Our faculty is exceptional in embracing the application of discoveries in the life sciences.
Downloads and Links
Read the webpage version of the complete essay introducing the College's four priorities
Download the complete essay introducing the College's four priorities (PDF, 168 KB)