We bring life to engineering

Our unique focus to design and develop processes, products and systems using basic biological, environmental science and engineering tools generates solutions to societal problems involving water, food, energy and public health. Students increasingly need to participate in problem-solving across traditional boundaries. Rapid technological changes are an added challenge, with implications driven by diminishing resources and a growing population. We aim to enable our students to drive innovation as our discipline continues to be transformed by our changing world.

Undergraduate research

News

Scenic view of McGraw Tower

News

Cornell Atkinson awards catalyze solutions in food, climate, clean energy

Atkinson Venture Fund awards have distributed $21.7 million to 223 projects spanning every college on Cornell’s campus over 15 years.

  • Cornell Atkinson
  • Biological and Environmental Engineering
  • Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Close up of blue microbes floating

News

Cornell geochemists and synthetic biologists have collaborated to improve the efficiency of microbes that can dissolve rocks to extract critical minerals while speeding carbon sequestration from air.

  • Biological and Environmental Engineering
  • Microbial biology
  • Environment
Cornell clock tower with cherry blossoms

News

Four Cornell faculty members have been awarded grants from the Bezos Earth Fund’s inaugural AI Grand Challenge for Climate and Nature. Among 1,200 global applicants, only 24 were selected – three from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences...
  • Lab of Ornithology
  • Animal Science
  • Biological and Environmental Engineering