Cornell has many established programs that can use your energy and creativity. And if you have an idea for a new group or organization, we'd love to hear about it.
People can fall in many different places along a continuum of involvement. Maybe you just want to live more simply, or perhaps you want to devote your entire life and career to sustainability issues. You're in the right place for both. Click around, explore your options. It doesn't matter that much what you do - just do something.
How can you help today?
There are many ways you can start contributing such as drinking from a reusable coffee mug, recycling, composting, using eco-friendly products, shutting lights off when not needed, printing double-sided . . . every little bit helps.
If you're ambitious, you can start a new group on campus; you can even organize a contest between residence halls to see who uses energy most efficiently. There are dozens of ideas for you to think about.
Student Organizations
There's quite a variety of interests represented among our active student groups, whether it's local food, renewable energy, or the benefits of composting. Some student organizations, such as Dilmun Hill organic farm, are more oriented toward learning and teaching, while others, such as Kyoto Now! and Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW), are working to make an immediate difference both on and off campus.
Staff Sustainability Groups
Cornell continues to make substantial strides in reducing its overall environmental impact through efforts in energy conservation, waste reduction, land preservation, and more. These programs could not happen without the commitment and support of dedicated internal organizations.
Senior Administration
The importance of sustainability resonates in the speeches and correspondence of Cornell's Senior Administration.
Academic Organizations at Cornell
Cornell is a powerhouse of research on many aspects of sustainability. You will find courses about sustainability in every college and many academic departments on campus. Add to that campus groups dedicated to soil and water conservation, biodiversity, sustainable enterprise, waste management, and outdoor education, and there really are a myriad of ways to get involved.
Community Groups
Ithaca is a great part of the world for ecological and social activism. There is a plethora of active and vibrant groups to connect with just off campus. You can participate in efforts that are mainly focused on Ithaca, surrounding communities, or the Finger Lakes region as a whole. Not far away, for example, is a residential project called EcoVillage, built entirely around sustainable living concepts. As sustainability involves living well within your locality, it is important that we remember that we are very much a part of the Ithaca community.
External Organizations
Connecting to national and international efforts reminds us that we are part of a greater movement. There are many organizations for sustainability that can help to locate valuable contacts and resources.
Research
Some faculty and students choose to focus their academic studies inward and apply their knowledge to campus sustainability. A variety of studies have been conducted to reduce waste and energy use on campus.
Cooperative Extension
Cornell Cooperative Extension is a key outreach system of Cornell University with a strong public mission and an extensive local and national presence. Cornell hosts the central state office, which coordinates with the Extension branches in every county in New York State. Cooperative Extension seeks to educate communities about the environment and is a valuable resource on a variety of topics: gardening, watershed management, pest control, waste management, and others.
Of Related Interest
