I went to Cornell's new MakerLAB, and student entrepreneurs told me they're 'bracing' for Trump's threats to cut funding
A laser printer whirred to life as it etched the twisted-T-shaped logo of Cornell University's Tata Innovation Center onto a large neon orange acrylic slab.
Between the printer's clicks, a student excitedly explained to me that the printer could work with several materials. She was one of half a dozen students tinkering in the MakerLAB, designed to help students and tech entrepreneurs prototype their creations.
The event's cheery mood, celebrating the opening of the lab on Friday, was also scattered with concerns about policies being implemented by the second Trump administration. Federal funding to universities for research could be withheld if they do not comply with President Donald Trump's new policies on doing away with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Cornell supports DEI programs and is at risk of losing federal funding.
I spoke with Monica Gertz, a postdoctoral fellow who helped create a wearable device that applies machine learning to restore speech in patients with limited speech. She said the research center supports her work, though she worries about scaling as federally funded research programs dwindle.
"I am bracing myself for when funding pullbacks hit my project," Gertz told me, adding that she had applied for small loans through the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
"Right now, I can keep this going to a certain point, but I do need to get money so I can start hiring people to really accelerate the pace," Gertz said. "I have amazing interns right now, but I'm at the point where I need to start paying people, so there is concern."
From an auditorium elsewhere in the 15,000-square-foot innovation center, Cornell Tech Dean Greg Morrisett addressed a crowd that had gathered to celebrate the MakerLAB's opening. He brought out huge novelty scissors to cut a red ribbon, christening the lab open for business.
"On the recent chaos from Washington, it's really disruptive," Morrisett told me.
"I'm really worried about what's happening in Washington because we want to attract the best talent from all around the world and keep them here, in New York and the US, but the administration has not been helping us in that regard," he added.
Morrisett said that Cornell Tech did a recent economic impact study that said the school generates about $750 million annually in economic activity for New York City, including from startups and alums.
"We bring in lots of international students, but over half of them stay here in New York City," Morrisett said. "They get jobs here, they work here, and they contribute to the economy."
Several local leaders and politicians also attended, including Rep. Jerry Nadler. Nadler vowed to fight back against the administration to preserve funding for research centers like Cornell's.
"We have been witnessing an attack on our academic institutions—threats of funding cuts, stifling of voices, and encroachment on freedom," Nadler said. "I recommit myself to using every tool I can to fight back on these attacks and to celebrate investment that gives our students, faculty, and campus community the tools they need to success, such as the MakerLAB."
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