Five new projects from the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seek to protect pollinators, restore oyster habitats, manage flood risk and support "cattlevoltaics."
Cornell Atkinson has provided grants to collaborative research teams with Cornell and TNC partners for 13 years, as part of the institution's mission to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application.
For example, Cornell and TNC colleagues have been working together for three years to minimize land- and water-use conflicts via sustainable solar siting. Presently, they are aiding communities in Appalachia that are interested in understanding opportunities and risks of new solar power developments atop abandoned minelands. Communities want to mitigate flood risks and facilitate solar grazing, so the researchers are working to develop site-specific recommendations that simultaneously enact conservation, energy and community goals, said Steve Grodsky, assistant professor of natural resources and the environment in the Cornell CALS Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment. Ginger Allington, assistant professor in the same unit is also a project leader.
"Our collaboration with TNC grounds our research in real-world impact and practitioner engagement whilst building a scientific process for understanding sustainability solutions," said Grodsky, who is also assistant unit leader of the U.S. Geological Survey New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. "This co-production of applied research can accelerate action for natural resource resiliency by ensuring science is useful across sectors."
Cornell Atkinson's key research priorities involve increasing food security, reducing climate risk, accelerating energy transitions and advancing One Health - the concept that human health and the health of the plant are inextricably linked. TNC's global priorities include addressing climate change, conserving critical land and water resources, and working to provide food and water sustainably.
"Addressing sustainability challenges at the scale required for meaningful impact depends on strong, intentional collaboration," said Kris Johnson, director of agriculture for North America at TNC. "By pairing Cornell's interdisciplinary research capacity with TNC's policy expertise, market insights and on-the-ground experience, this partnership supports science that is designed to inform decisions and drive tangible environmental outcomes."
The five projects funded this year:
Managing Ground-Nesting Bee Aggregations for Agriculture in North America
This project unites community science, ecological research and applied management to study, protect and enhance ground-nesting bee aggregations within agricultural landscapes. Researchers will document nest sites of ground nesting bees, identify the soil and landscape factors driving nesting success and develop evidence-based best management practices to sustain, restore and enhance these vital habitats on and around working farms.
A ground-nesting bee
Cornell: Bryan Danforth, professor of entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
TNC: Lesley Atwood, agricultural ecologist
Evaluating the Effects of Pesticide Reductions and Restrictions on Biodiversity
As populations of birds, bees and butterflies continue to plummet across North America, a growing body of evidence points to pesticides as one important culprit. Researchers will evaluate pesticide restrictions and mitigation strategies, identify which approaches and scales of implementation can best deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity, and work with partners to develop outreach materials for decisionmakers.
Cornell: Laura Melissa Guzman, assistant professor of entomology (CALS), Catherine Kling, Tisch University Professor (Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy), Amanda Rodewald, Garvin Professor (CALS), senior director of the Center for Avian Population Studies (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), and Faculty Director in Cornell Atkinson
TNC: Kris Johnson, North America agriculture director
Modeling and Validating Restoration Site Priorities Based on Population Connectivity
Eastern oysters provide an eco-friendly dietary protein, and they play a foundational role in building habitat that protects their ecosystems by filtering water and recycling nutrients. Researchers will combine 3D hydrodynamic modeling with larval tracking to predict ecosystem-scale processes in the Hudson River estuary. They will engage stakeholders working on oyster restoration to improve strategies and increase successes.
Cornell: Matthew Hare, associate professor of natural resources and the environment in the Ashley School (CALS)
TNC: Boze Hancock, senior marine restoration scientist, Carl Lobue, New York oceans and fisheries director, and Marta Ribera, applied science and communications lead
Collaborators: Philip Orton, research associate professor at Stevens Institute of Oceanography; and Sean Kramer, associate professor at Norwich University
Smart Flow Sensors For Smart Stormwater Management
Urban watershed runoff leads to pollution and increased flood risk. Researchers seek to improve automated stormwater infrastructure by developing an image-based system to gauge surface water flow in small natural and engineered water-ways. They'll use infrared and visible-light images of the water surface to calculate flow velocity and discharge. Unlike existing technologies, this system minimizes disruption at measurement locations, greatly expanding deployment possibilities.
Cornell: Seth A Schweitzer, research associate; and Todd Cowen, professor of civil and environmental engineering, both in the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering
TNC: Matthew Rea, director of strategic partnerships; and Craig Holland, senior director of investments.
No Bull: Understanding Real and Perceived Barriers to Scaling Cattlevoltaics
"Cattlevoltaics" combines solar energy production with cattle grazing. Researchers will host in-person workshops with agricultural producers and solar developers in different U.S. regions to capture key beliefs and attitudes, perceived opportunities and barriers, and interest level in cattlevoltaics. The research will build understanding, foster ideas to solve challenges and pave the way to more quickly achieve conservation and socioeconomic benefits from projects at scale.
Cornell: Richard Stedman, professor of natural resources and the environment; and Kathryn Walsh, research associate, both in the Ashley School (CALS)
TNC: Morgan Higman, climate strategy director, TNC Florida; and Jakob Lindaas, director of climate action, TNC Colorado
Krisy Gashler is a writer for Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.
