Last Thursday, Mark Orlowski, founder and executive director of the Sustainable Endowments Institute gave a lecture on campus about his organization’s efforts to establish revolving loan funds to advance universities’ energy efficiency efforts. Such funds are typically launched by dipping into endowments but are continually replenished with the savings on energy costs.

Dr. William Brinkman gave a lecture entitled “Science for Energy,” presented by the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology on April 2 during which he spoke of President Obama’s dedication to science, 

A New York State Supreme Court upheld the Town of Middlefield’s ban on hydraulic fracturing and gas drilling on Friday, mirroring a decision made Tuesday on Dryden’s hydraulic fracturing ban.

A competition in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences saved approximately $230,000 by reducing an estimated 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions in six buildings, according to a Dec. 12 press release from the University.

A Cornell professor's research points to algae as a potential biofuel for the future.

Local produce, jams and cheeses adorned tables in Mann lobby on Nov. 18 for the second annual Food and Fiber Fair.  The event attracted local farmers and activists.

In a recent lecture, four speakers commented on the scientific, social and economic sides of the “green” energy debate.  They emphasized that green energy development affects many diverse aspects of the population.

To the Editor:

Re: “Lights Out,” Opinion, Oct. 19

As a member of the staff community who frequently works late at night in my overnight-locked up building, I regret the policy that hall lights must stay on all night. It seems such a waste, but I am literally not permitted to turn off the lights when I leave.

About $6 billion is spent yearly by the U.S. government to subsidize corn ethanol. Around 1700 gallons of water are consumed for every gallon of corn ethanol produced. Corn is the number one cause of soil erosion in the United States and its overdependence on nitrogenous fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides is the prime reason of the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, corn ethanol produces only 1.3 percent of nation’s total oil consumption, which, according to Prof. David Pimentel, entomology, defeats the purpose of energy sustainability.

Next Tuesday, America will elect the next president of the United States and new members of the 111th Congress. Perhaps more than ever scientific issues are at the forefront of the political battleground. The interaction of science and politics exists at all levels from the elementary classroom, to the university laboratory, to the halls of congress, to the oval office.

Cornell and its faculty have long made significant contributions to not only science but scientific policy as well. They have also seen their research affected by policy, and thus have a lot to say about this relationship — its past and present circumstances, and what the future may bring.