2027 EDF–Cornell Atkinson Research Track
2027 EDF–Cornell Atkinson Research Track supports Cornell–EDF teams in sustainability research, tool development, and pilot testing to build knowledge and pathways to future real-world impact.
Funder: Cornell University
Due Dates: November 13, 2026, 5 p.m. ET (Optional LOI) | January 20, 2027, 5 p.m. ET (Full proposal)
Funding Amounts: $25,000–$100,000 for one year; up to $200,000 for two years
Summary: Supports joint Cornell–EDF early- to mid-stage sustainability research, tool development, and pilot testing with pathways to future real-world impact.
Key Information: Cornell co-PIs must be Atkinson Faculty Fellows, collaborating meaningfully with eligible full-time EDF staff.
Description
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, with support from the David and Patricia Atkinson Foundation, fund collaborative research that builds scientific understanding, knowledge, methods, tools, or data for future application. The Research Track supports foundational discovery, applied research and tool development, and proof-of-concept or pilot testing. Projects are not yet ready for policy application or stakeholder deployment, but must explain how their outputs could lead to real-world impact.
The track combines Cornell’s research capabilities with EDF’s practical and policy strengths. Activities include hypothesis-driven research, data generation, modeling, analytical method development, and early tool testing. Deliverables may include publications, datasets, code, models, analytical frameworks, prototypes, or pilot results. Priorities span food security, climate risk, energy transitions, and One Health, aligned with EDF’s goals for climate stability, resilience, and human health. Environmental justice considerations should be reflected where relevant.
