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Discover CALS

See how our current work and research is bringing new thinking and new solutions to some of today's biggest challenges.

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About

Cornell CALS is a premier institution of scientific learning, tackling the complex challenges of our time through purpose-driven science.
Two hands holding some soil
CALS researchers inspire NY's Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act
Cornell, CALS and New York farmers have been at the forefront of the soil health movement.
CALS researchers inspire NY's Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act
The silhouette of a man vaping in front of a blue background
Study takes on e-cigarette warning ‘paradox’
A team of CALS researchers is helping regulators identify the most effective health warnings to include in ads for electronic cigarettes.
Study takes on e-cigarette warning ‘paradox’
Barley in a field with two people in the distance
With new barley variety, Cornell leads the way for brewers
CALS researchers released a new variety of New York-adapted spring barley to meet industry needs created by a 2012 Farm Brewery Bill.
With new barley variety, Cornell leads the way for brewers
A group of fruit flies lie in dark light only illuminated by a newly placed genes
Improved CRISPR gene drive solves problems of old tech
New gene drives uses genetic engineering to create a desired mutation that spreads throughout a population in fewer than 10 generations.
Improved CRISPR gene drive solves problems of old tech

You want to change the world. So do we.

We are a community with an uncommon sense of a common goal: to leave the world better than we found it. Ambitious? Sure. But Cornell CALS has been changing the world for over a century and will be doing so for a century more.

Founded in agriculture and focused on life, we are pioneers who have shaped contemporary science and eagerly embraced international opportunity, while always serving the people in the state of New York.

The Wall Street Journal/Times of Higher Education 2020 College Rankings ranked CALS #1 in agriculture, agriculture operations and related sciences.

Our purpose

This is the charge that motivates us: CALS tackles the challenges of our times through purpose-driven science that advances understanding and improves life.

CALS at a glance

16

Departments

7 departments shared with other Cornell colleges and schools

2

Schools

The Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management
and the School of Integrative Plant Science

$244M

Total research expenditures

FY 2022

3,590

Undergraduate students

As of May 2021

1,022

Graduate students

As of May 2021

350

Faculty

As of May 2021

We seek answers in order to find the next questions.

Our mission

These are our objectives and how we accomplish them: As a premier institution of scientific learning, we connect the life, agricultural, environmental and social sciences to provide world-class education, spark unexpected discoveries and inspire pioneering solutions.

What we do

We are actively pursuing our mission to serve the public through our education, research and extension/outreach efforts. 

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people discussing plants

Teaching passion-driven minds

Learn about a CALS education
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Purpose-driven science in action

Explore our research
researchers in field

Sharing knowledge with the community

Learn about outreach and extension

Learn more about CALS

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Latest news, discoveries and breakthroughs

Explore the work we’re doing today and discover how it’s reshaping tomorrow.

A man stands in a green field with two root vegetables in his hand.

News

Incentive programs doubled cover crop use by farmers

A survey of farmers in four Northeast states, including New York, found that incentive payments encouraged participants to plant twice as many acres of cover crops as they did prior to receiving funds – a change that can both improve their farms...

  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Soil and Crop Sciences Section
  • Agriculture
A fungi sample growing in a petri dish, yellow edges and furry texture.

News

Fungal nutrient sensing could shed light on obesity, cancer

Fungal biologist Lori Huberman will use a $1.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how fungi sense and use nutrients, basic research with potential applications for treatment of cancer, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and...

  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
Two ponds encircled with vegetation.

News

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.

  • New York State Water Resources Institute
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Climate Change
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