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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.

Moonshot thinking

Harnessing the power of science and innovation biology to engineer new material solutions, create sustainable technologies for markets, and understand such advances from a societal perspective.

We have the potential to harness the microscopic building blocks of life – genes, molecules, and cells—for major, life-changing impact. With synthetic biology, scientists can program biology for the sustainable production of fuels, foods, medicines, and other next-generation materials critical to fight disease, power society, feed communities, and lower our carbon footprint.

Click here to learn more about how we are using synthetic biology to help solve human health challenges, how students are engaging with the work, meet our experts and browse articles highlighting synthetic biology.

Research Spotlight

Opportunities to support

Faculty, program support & research

CALS globally recognized faculty are the cornerstone of our reputation as a premier institution of scientific learning. Support CALS faculty and graduate students working on a multitude of issues around synthetic biology.

Student support & affordability

Scholarships enable Cornell to recruit and enroll the most promising scholars and garner a diverse student population. CALS supports students to ensure their success through programs such as peer mentoring, E3, CALS navigator, and experiential learning opportunities.

Flexible impact

Establishing a named Moonshot fund or supporting the established Leading in Synthetic Biology Moonshot Fund offers CALS leadership the greatest flexibility to take advantage of innovative and emerging opportunities, and will be used to bolster CALS' strengths in support of initiatives focused on synthetic biology.

The impact of giving

Solar panels floating on a pond

News

Researchers project significant energy gains from using floating solar on just 3.5% of waterbodies in the Northeastern U.S., even with approaches that preserve biodiversity and recreation.

  • Cornell Atkinson
  • Natural Resources and the Environment
  • Biodiversity
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