The past year has been highlighted by progress on numerous fronts across the university. Energies of faculty, staff, and students have been directed toward new ideas, new actions, and new facilities. It has been a time of renewal and a time to look to the future. Because of its unique history and capabilities, Cornell is strategically positioned to compete successfully for funding in basic and translational sciences. Following are examples to emphasize the competitive position we have established.

Cornell’s distinguished history in the physical sciences, engineering, and computational sciences sets the tone for the future. Planning for the Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) is well under way with support from the university, state, and federal government. The ERL is a new x-ray source based on accelerator physics and superconducting microwave technology that will be about 1,000 times brighter than current machines. This facility will be valuable for research in biology, medicine, and materials science, as well as nanotechnology and new areas of science that will be critical to our national competitiveness. Strategic planning for the physical sciences building (to support investigators in chemistry and chemical biology, physics, and applied and engineering physics) and Gates Hall (for computing and information sciences) is progressing, as well.