- Sep 5, 2025
- Oct 12, 2023
- by Emily Groff
- Holistic Human Health, Social Impact + Justice
Visiting Scholar Ruth Browne honors alumna’s collaboration to improve lives
We have to work together to drive change. That was the central message that Ruth C. Browne, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY), shared as Cornell Human Ecology’s inaugural Flemmie Kittrell Visiting Scholar.
Browne is an innovator in the field of urban health and education who focuses on building consensus and engaging stakeholder communities. During her visit, Oct. 4-6, she met with students, faculty and staff; visited classes; delivered a public
- Mar 20 ,2026
- by Karen Steffy
- Human Centered Design
- Human Ecology Building T01
Understanding the chemical principles underpinning the fundamental features of life beyond biochemistry within the origins of life context
Investigating prebiotic chemistry and the fundamental features of life like metabolism, information, self-reproduction, natural selection and computation, is significant within the origins of life research. In this context, one of the key elements constitutes the synthesis of chemistry-based natural-life-mimicking artificial or synthetic living systems, starting from a homogeneous aqueous blend of a few strictly non-biochemical compounds, using a technique called polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). In one of the studies, gradient sequence-controlled polymers were generated through PET-RAFT-PISA
- Feb 3, 2026
How to stop being a ‘desk shrimp’ and improve your desk posture
Alan Hedge, professor emeritus in the human-centered design department at Cornell University, provides expert advice on desk posture and the health effects of poor ergonomics.
- Mar 2, 2026
People are 'washing' their clothes in the snow, but does it actually work?
Fran Kozen and Larissa Shepherd, experts in the Department of Human Centered Design, explain the tradition and limits of snow washing wool in the snow.
Laura Bellows
Laura Bellows, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.N., is a Professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences. She is a public health nutrition scientist whose research program centers on developing, evaluating, and translating evidence-based interventions that improve nutrition, physical activity, and health among children and families.
Her interdisciplinary research integrates nutrition, physical activity, behavioral science, implementation science, and digital health to develop evidence-based interventions in partnership with communities. Working collaboratively with families, caregivers, educators, and community organizations, her
