Contents RESEARCH IN PROGRESS
06
103
The Ideal Hub for a Maize Geneticist
How Do Plants Generate and Continue Making New Organs throughout Their Life Cycle? Michael J. Scanlon, Plant Biology
12
An Exhilarating Niche
What Genes and Developmental Processes Are Essential for the Development of Specific Parts of an Embryo?
Why Cornell? 11 Young Innovators Explain
Maria J. Garcia-Garcia, Molecular Biology and Genetics
18
This Is Not Your Ordinary Ivy League
How Do We Design and Make Robots That Can Mimic Every Aspect of Nature? Hod Lipson, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering/Computing and Information Science
26
Body and Soul
How Does Medieval English Literature Fit in the 21st Century?
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
84 “Any Person … Any Study” and the Lure of Research 90 Undergraduate Researchers Pick Applied and Engineering Physics CENTER SPECTRUM
A Conversation with Masha Raskolnikov, English
96 News from the Research Centers
32
Behavioral Economics
How Do We Incorporate Psychology into Economics?
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RESEARCH NEWLY FUNDED
100 Sponsored Research Awards
Ted O’Donoghue, Economics
38
A Compelling Question Drives a Long-Term Passion
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How Do We Develop a Brain Stimulation Method to Improve Cognitive Function in Patients after Serious Brain Injury?
WHY CORNELL?
103 11 Young Innovators Explain
Nicholas D. Schiff, Neurology and Neuroscience
48
Shaping Attitudes, Shaping Politics
How Have U.S. Social Policies Changed Since the 1970s? Suzanne Mettler, Government
54
Signaling a New Path
How Do Proteins Do Their Jobs?
OUTREACH
108 Amplifying Science The Reach of the Cornell Center for Materials Research ue TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
117 Salt Matters SaltCheck Inc.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
121 Power in the Peel AppleBoost Products Inc.
A Conversation with Holger Sondermann, Molecular Medicine
60
When We Search the Web
What Does the Relationship between Algorithms and Information Have To Do with Our Everyday Computer Use? Robert Kleinberg, Computer Science
RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
127 In Support of Cutting-Edge Research Catherine E. Long RESEARCH IN FOCUS
129 The Essence of Cornell Robert A. Buhrman
66 74
A Visual Journey through Time
What Is the Role of Visual Culture? Cheryl Finley, History of Art
On the Web
From Bilingual Education to the Low-Wage Labor Market
Want copies of individual articles? Print them from the web at www.research.cornell.edu/VPR/pubsmain.html
What Can the U.S. Government Do to Help Low-Income People? A Conversation with Jordan D. Matsudaira, Policy Analysis and Management
Cover photo credits: Frank DiMeo; Jason Koski/CU Photo credits this page: Robert Barker/CU; Frank DiMeo; Lindsay France/CU; Jason Koski/CU; University Photography