Cornell Chronicle is reporting that President Michael I. Kotlikoff addressed the Class of 2026 at Commencement ceremonies May 23, telling graduates they possess the tenacity, talent and determination to advance American democracy. Ph.D. graduates were encouraged to carry a "culture of collaboration" into the world, and the university's ROTC commissioned its first "mustangs" among its newly appointed officers.
In other campus news, five alumni are set to join the Cornell Board of Trustees in July. A prison education program secured $1.5 million to establish a national research hub, and a new grant aims to transform care for young cancer survivors.
Research highlights include studies on the "otherworldly thunder" of Atlantic sturgeon, an improved MRI approach for assessing common valve disease, the compounded employment challenges for people with criminal records and disabilities, and an enhanced embryo freezing technique to preserve endangered species. Additionally, a new book chronicles the resurgence of Big Red men's lacrosse.
CBS News quoted Andrew Farnsworth, a visiting scientist at Cornell's Lab of Ornithology, on May 27, 2026. Farnsworth discussed the environmental impact of a space tech company's plan to launch mirrors to redirect sunlight, emphasizing the need for environmental impact assessments to improve such concepts rather than derail them, particularly concerning light pollution and migration.