Join Cornell’s Campaign

To do the greatest good, the campaign for Cornell University

Our Campaign to Spark the Greatest Good

The founder of Cornell University, Ezra Cornell, famously dedicated his resources “to do the greatest good,” and he decided that founding a university was the most powerful way to do that. His vision for a learning community with the founding principle of “…any person…any study” made a home for an institution like the Lab of Ornithology.

Founded more than a century ago, the Lab’s audience, ambition, and scientific reputation have reached a global scale. We are uniquely positioned to convert this potential energy into worldwide conservation impact—to begin to stem the accelerating loss of biodiversity across our planet, and to safeguard the ecosystems upon which all life depends.

Join us as we bring together a community of people to spark change. Learn more about the Cornell Lab’s Spark Campaign, below.

Two seperate photos, one of students looking through binoculars and the other of Long-billed Dowitchers
Student photo provided by Cornell Lab. Long-billed Dowitchers by Joachim Bertrands/Macaulay Library.

Interdisciplinary Science and Technology

Tackling the great issues of our age, from theory to practice and back

Our culture of discovery and innovation brings together scientists, modelers, engineers, educators, filmmakers, and artists, and equips the next generation of leaders with an interdisciplinary, tech-forward approach.


People Power

Educating students to be leaders who carry the Cornell ethos into the world

We lead the world in citizen science, generating open-source data at scale, and we amplify people’s connection with and stewardship of nature through evocative storytelling, K–12 education, and lifelong learning.


Science to Action

Engaging with others to create knowledge with impact

We move our science to action by synthesizing, translating, and applying big data to generate new insights about conservation challenges. We support partnerships with local communities and organizations around the world, and we empower others to conserve species and ecosystems.


Lab Campaign Team

Join Our Email List

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Sign up for email and don’t miss a thing!

Golden-cheeked Warbler by Bryan Calk/Macaulay Library