College of Human Ecology at Cornell

10/23/2026

This week, students in FSAD 1250 had the chance to work directly with the Natural Dye Garden in the Human Ecology Terrace to explore a contact dyeing technique called bundling.

Flowers, leaves, and roots are placed directly on mordanted fabric (meaning the textiles were pre-treated to ensure fiber and dye bond to ensure colorfastness), rolled tightly, bound with rubber bands, and then steamed. The result? Color from the plants transfers to the fabric and creates a design reminiscent of the plant itself.

Students also had the option to include dried cochineal, a scale insect that produces a bright magenta, which was sourced from a five family farming cooperative in Peru.

Photo Credit: Galib Braschler

10/21/2026

Is going “no contact” with family becoming too common?

As conversations around family estrangement continue to evolve, Cornell research is shedding light on the emotional complexities and lasting consequences of cutting ties with loved ones.

Research from the Department of Psychology estimates that 27% of American adults have cut off contact with a family member. But the decision often comes with lasting emotional consequences, including grief, chronic stress and complicated family relationships, even when separation feels necessary.

Read more about the rise of the “no contact” trend and what Cornell research reveals about the complexities and consequences of family estrangement: https://nypost.com/2026/10/18/opinion/why-are-so-many-kids-suddenly-cutting-off-their-parents/

10/16/2026

Could a condition affecting millions of women also have implications for brain health?

A new scientific review explores potential connections between polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), metabolic health and Alzheimer's disease. While some studies suggest an association with cognitive decline and dementia, researchers emphasize that the evidence remains inconclusive.

In Newsweek, expertise from the Division of Nutritional Sciences helps shed light on the emerging research, including how metabolic and hormonal changes may influence brain health over time and why further investigation is needed.

Read more:

Loading video...By Jasmine LawsReporter0ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.A condition that affects millions of American women has been associated with an increased risk....

10/14/2026

Denim was once made for labor. Today, it walks the runway. What changed?

Now on view at Catherwood Library, “Weathering the Storm: The Role of Labor in an Era of Climate Change” brings together historical photographs, environmental reports, and garments selected by Cornell students to explore the connections between clothing, labor history, and environmental change.

Featuring archival materials from the Kheel Center at the Cornell ILR School and garments from the Cornell Fashion + Textile Collection in the College of Human Ecology, the exhibit traces the history of workwear, from red bandanas worn by striking coal miners to clothing that has evolved into everyday fashion and luxury.

On view through August 2027.

Read more: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/10/exhibit-weaves-together-clothing-work-and-environment

10/13/2026

October light on campus 🍁

09/25/2026

What can human milk teach us about supporting breastfeeding families and giving infants the healthiest possible start? 🥛🔬

In the Golan Lab, assistant professor Yarden Golan and a team of undergraduate and graduate researchers in the Division of Nutritional Sciences are working to answer that question from the molecular level to clinical care.

The lab studies how human milk is produced, the bioactive components it contains and how they may influence infant health, while also investigating breastfeeding challenges such as low milk production. By combining clinical research with genomics, cell biology and other approaches, the team aims to translate discoveries in the lab into better care and support for families.

For undergraduate researcher Wesley Mui ’27, a human biology, health and society major, that means taking an active role in the research process. His work includes studying mRNAs in milk fat globules and their potential role in infant development, designing and running experiments, and researching an inflammatory condition associated with poor infant growth outcomes.

“As an undergraduate, it can be easy to think that you won't be able to make a meaningful contribution to the research, but through this experience, I realized that every researcher starts somewhere, and taking the initiative to lead an individual project can be a great way to become more involved and independent as a researcher,” Mui said.

Together, students and researchers in the Golan Lab are working across disciplines and stages of study toward a shared goal: advancing our understanding of human milk and translating that knowledge into better outcomes for parents and infants.

Photo Credit: Galib Braschler

09/24/2026

From research to impact in Washington, D.C.

Across two weeks in September, the Cornell Joan Klein Jacobs Center for Precision Nutrition and Health brought its expertise to Washington, D.C., as part of its broader advocacy and “last mile” work, helping connect research in nutrition and health with the people, organizations and institutions working to put knowledge into action.

On Sept. 9–10, Saurabh Mehta, the Janet and Gordon Lankton Professor and founding director of the Jacobs Center, spoke on strengthening children’s microbiome as part of the 28th public meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The meeting focused on the national response to antimicrobial resistance, bringing together expertise across human health, agriculture, the microbiome and the environment.

The following week, the Jacobs Center partnered with the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability to co-host a Capitol Hill panel exploring the intersection of Food is Medicine and sustainable agriculture.

The conversation brought together Dr. Andrew Bremer of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Sheila Fleischhacker of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Evan Lutz, founder and CEO of Hungry Harvest, and Mehta, with Marian Flaxman, communications and advocacy lead for the Jacobs Center, moderating.

Panelists explored Food is Medicine from perspectives spanning nutrition, agriculture, sustainability, and program delivery, including opportunities to source from local, sustainable farms and incorporate precision nutrition into programs.

Together, the two D.C. engagements reflect a common goal for the Jacobs Center: connecting research with policy and practice to advance solutions that improve human and planetary health.

09/23/2026

Kicking off fall with food, friends and the Human Ecology community🍂❤️

Students, faculty and staff came together yesterday for our Human Ecology Community Picnic, sharing lunch, playing games and enjoying an afternoon of connection across the college.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and helped us welcome the new season together. Here’s to more moments like these this fall!

Photo Credit: Galib Braschler

09/23/2026

For the first time in over a decade, garments from fashion designer Ralph Rucci’s haute couture and made-to-order collections have been brought together under one roof as part of the Cornell Fashion + Textile Collection (CF+TC) at College of Human Ecology at Cornell.

Documentary materials, including thousands of original sketches, patterns and swatches, are housed by the Kheel Center at Cornell University Library. The collection includes 125 cubic feet of paper materials: approximately 8,000 sketches, 3,000 patterns, thousands of fabric swatches and hundreds of photographs. The archive is accessible to students, researchers and the public, ensuring Rucci’s legacy lives on and inspires future generations of designers.

“One can see the evolution of ideas from Rucci’s sketches with handwritten notes appended with feathers, fabrics and color schemes in the Kheel Center to the final garments in Cornell’s Fashion and Textile Collection,” said Steven Calco, head of the Kheel Center. “Studying the design from inception to ex*****on will be invaluable for students learning these fashion design skills at Cornell and the profession at large. Preserving these records ensures students and future researchers can study the relationship between design, craft, labor and production in the fashion and textile industries.”

Read more about the Ralph Rucci collection and its new home at Cornell: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/now-cornell-legendary-designers-collection-inspires-next-generation

09/21/2026

Join us tomorrow for the Human Ecology Community Picnic! 🍽️

📅 Tuesday, Sept. 22
⏰ Noon–2:30 p.m.
📍 HEB Commons
☀️🌧️ Rain or shine!

Students, faculty and staff are invited to stop by, share a meal and connect with others from across the Human Ecology community.

Grab some lunch, bring a friend and spend some time with us. We hope to see you there!