NSF grant supports AI-driven sustainability research, training

A new program at Cornell will tackle critical environmental challenges by integrating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools with sustainability research across the campus, thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation's Research Traineeship Program.

Led by Fengqi You, the Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor in Energy Systems Engineering, the five-year, $3 million program will train 105 doctoral students to apply AI in four key areas: sustainable materials, decarbonization of energy systems, climate-smart digital agriculture, and the global energy-food-climate nexus. The program is part of the broader AI for Sustainability (AI4S) initiative at Cornell, and will bring together researchers from 16 graduate fields spanning disciplines like engineering, computer science, materials science, chemistry, ecology, economics, and soil and crop sciences.

"This program merges cutting-edge AI research and sustainability science to address some of the most pressing global challenges," said You, who is also co-director of the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture and co-director of Cornell University AI for Science Institute. Both institutes will support the program along with the Graduate School and the Institute for Computational Sustainability. "By uniting researchers from diverse STEM fields, we will develop innovative solutions to decarbonize energy systems, enhance food production, and mitigate climate impacts."

Students will gain hands-on experience with AI applications ranging from developing new sustainable materials and energy technologies to optimizing food production systems using digital agriculture technologies. The program includes a small-grant initiative, and an immersive bootcamp combining a crash course with a team-science workshop. The curriculum will feature harmonized courses and joint mentorships to promote interdisciplinary research training.

"The program's collaborative approach reflects Cornell's commitment to addressing sustainability challenges, which are increasingly complex and interconnected," said You, who added that there will be an emphasis on developing professional skills in scientific communication, team science, ethics, leadership and entrepreneurship. "This is about preparing the next generation of leaders who can leverage AI to solve the climate challenges we face today. The outcomes will meet growing industrial demands and contribute to economic growth, while underpinning global sustainability efforts."

You said the program's innovative structure not only serves as a blueprint for interdisciplinary graduate education but also sets a new standard for integrating AI into sustainability research.

"This model will empower future leaders to address global challenges with cutting-edge AI tools," You said. "By creating strong ties with industry and public sectors, the program is poised to catalyze meaningful societal impact and drive progress toward a more sustainable, decarbonized future."

Additionally, the program will build partnerships with institutions focused on enhancing diversity in STEM education to ensure that a wide range of perspectives contribute to the program's goals, including with the University of Texas at El Paso, City University of New York, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Delaware State University and Tuskegee University.

Co-principal investigators and senior personnel for the program are Carla Gomes, the Ronald and Antonia Nielsen Professor of Computing and Information at Cornell Bowers CIS; Jeff Tester, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Cornell Engineering; Johannes Lehmann, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Julio Giordano, professor of animal science at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Héctor D. Abruña, the E. M. Chamot Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences; David Bindel professor of computer science at Cornell Bowers CIS; Natalie Mahowald, the Irving Porter Church Professor in Engineering and director of earth and atmospheric sciences; and Lang Tong, the Irwin and Joan Jacobs Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell Engineering.

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