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Two recent research projects from the Hybrid Body Lab (HBL), directed by Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao, assistant professor of human centered design, are providing new opportunities in the field of human-computer interaction and for makers of electronic-textiles (e-textiles).

Cornell Human Ecology has awarded six faculty members with grants to support research projects related to sustainability over the 2023-2024 academic year.

The projects range from helping New York State nutrition programs support sustainable food systems, to developing self-powered on-skin computers, to expanding a program that trains retirees as environmental volunteers, reflecting Human Ecology’s interdisciplinary approach to understanding the human experience and helping people thrive.

This first round of the CHE Faculty Sustainability Research Program

When Jiayi Guo enrolled in Introduction to Environmental Psychology in her first semester, she had no idea the course would shape both her undergraduate experience and her post-graduate ambitions. 

“I was super interested in the class, and I knew that I wanted to explore research a little bit,” said Guo, a design and environmental analysis major. “So I emailed the professor and asked is there any way I could get involved?” 

The professor — Gary

Last month, as both New York Textile Month and Climate Week NYC  drew to a close, the Hybrid Body Lab (HBL) led a sustainable e-textile workshop in Manhattan. The event took place at 570 Lexington Avenue, Cornell’s midtown hub for research, learning and engagement.

Participants learned to make EcoThreads, or biodegradable and conductive yarns, using a wet spinning process with materials sourced from the grocery store. Participants included current or retired faculty from New York