New Life Sciences Initiative and Undergraduate Business Program Stir Excitement in the College

 

New approaches to discovery in the biological sciences are leading to revolutionary breakthroughs in our understanding of life.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has long been at the forefront of this scientific revolution. Now the College plays a significant role in Cornell University's New Life Sciences Initiative, which was launched last April after about five years of work by faculty. The New Life Sciences Initiative has great potential to dramatically change the way we live. The Initiative involves about 50 departments and units, drawn from eight colleges and schools, in research areas including genomics, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and ecology and environmental science. CALS is already playing a major role in the research and discoveries in this science, from improving health, food supply and food safety, the environment, business and the economy, and exploring the ethical, legal, and social issues involved in new technologies.

This major university priority marks a $500 million enterprise, the most ambitious research effort in Cornell's history. This effort represents an important investment in hiring new faculty, renovating existing facilities, and supporting graduate fellowships. In addition, the board of trustees has approved a recommendation to place a proposed 240,000 gross-square-foot Life Science Technology Building on the west end of Alumni Fields, right across from the Ag Quad. This facility will be the largest life sciences complex in the state of New York, and will create a collaborative environment in which researchers from diverse disciplines across the university can work together to make Cornell a world leader in the life sciences.

We are excited about the New Life Sciences Initiative and are creating opportunities to share that excitement with our alumni. Some of you may have already attended one of the stimulating regional programs about the new initiative. Upcoming activities include an interactive forum in Boston on May 8; please check the lifesciences.cornell.edu/news.php web site for more information. The College is also excited about its accredited Undergraduate Business Program. Last November we held a grand celebration for the Undergraduate Business Program, with almost 400 alumni, students, and friends participating in panels and networking opportunities. The entire day of activities exemplified the excellence of the program, its faculty, alumni, and the talented students of today. I hope you enjoy the special insert in this issue on the Undergraduate Business Program Celebration from November 2002.

Meanwhile, the ALS Alumni Association is striving to reach out and serve more of the College's alumni across the nation. Please be sure to read the message in this issue from ALS Alumni Association president Ed Staehr about this effort. The Association has been reviewing the College's alumni demographics and is developing strategies to recruit volunteers and plan programs in some new regions. The Association is also looking at ways to involve more young alumni, because alumni of all ages play a critical role in creating the future of the College. I commend the Association for its efforts to build a diverse and active group of alumni volunteers.

I also appreciate the Association's continued support for programming and scholarship here in the College, especially in our current tight budget environment. It is no secret that we are entering the second year of serious budget constraints, requiring discipline and sacrifice throughout the College and by all of our constituencies. This being the case, we have found it necessary to cut the number of issues of ALS News from three to two a year. We apologize for this, and appreciate your understanding. We hope to return to our previous publication schedule as soon as economic conditions allow. I look forward to seeing many of you as I travel throughout the spring and summer.

Susan A. Henry, Ph.D.
The Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Agriculture
and Life Sciences