Using algae for biofuels and harvesting wind energy around buildings. These are two innovative research ideas, among others, that Cornell will fund to stimulate original and cross-disciplinary work in sustainability science.

The Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future (CCSF), founded in 2007, announced its inaugural Academic Venture Fund awards Oct. 17, funded by the center's 2008 budget of almost $3 million from alumni gifts, including one from University Council member David R. Atkinson '60, and the Office of the Provost. The center made grants to five workshops and seven research projects with the aim of starting a movement of interdisciplinary sustainability innovation at Cornell, with the potential to involve external partners in industry, government, foundations and nongovernmental organizations.

"We could have easily funded twice as many high-quality projects as our budget would accommodate," said Chris Barrett, a professor of applied economics and management and CCSF's associate director of economic development programs. "We are very excited by this portfolio of work and the new collaborations they will foster."

The research projects are intended to demonstrate proof of principle, provide insights and tools for addressing needs or establish new and innovative ideas and approaches to specific sustainability problems.

The seven research projects are:

• Improving the stability and productivity of algal bioreactors for biofuel production: The research team will explore how to make algal biofuel more profitable by generating transgenic algae that increase amounts of carbohydrates, oil and cellulase, a necessary and valued enzyme for ethanol production. (Funded for $156,693 over two years)
• Integrated digital design environment for sustainable architecture: The team will develop interactive visual and analytic digital tools to help architects model and test sustainable and energy-efficient designs. (Funded for $138,986 over 18 months)
• Forecasting disease and economic consequences of climate change:Researchers will create a disease and climate network at Cornell to address challenges of climate change on species diversity, conservation and health. (Funded for $147,003 over 18 months)
• Environmental, energetic and economic potential of biochar: The team aims to quantify the potential of biochar (charcoal from biomass) as a powerful soil fertilizer that safely sequesters carbon, which causes climate change. Biochar is created when biomass is heated in an oxygen-free bioreactor. (Funded for $92,512 over 18 months)
• Understanding aflatoxin accumulation in maize: These toxins, produced by fungi, contaminate a quarter of the world's food crops. The team aims to identify the most effective and feasible interventions to reduce aflatoxin exposure for high-risk populations. (Funded for $99,380 over one year)
• Vibro-wind technology as alternative wind energy systems for buildings: This program will investigate the principles and feasibility of vibro-wind power, harvesting energy from wind that flows around commercial and residential buildings. (Funded for $100,000 over one year)
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: The team will evaluate how electrifying transportation affects energy use and emissions. (Funded for $99,998 over one year)

CCSF also is funding five workshops to bring together Cornell faculty to discuss specific sustainability issues, prioritize needs and strategize about possible solutions. Each workshop was funded in the range of $25,000 to $35,000.

The workshops will focus on:

• Large-scale wind-generated power;
• Managing sources of uncertainty for sustainable resource management;
• Building social networks for biological inventories and information;
• Urban trees for sustainable cities to develop an integrated social-ecological sciences research agenda in New York City; and
• Environmental sustainability in an aging society.