<p>Right... but one could argue that agriculture is already being covered by life sciences, so, it is duplicative.</p>
<p>What you are missing are the applied social sciences (aem, dsoc, comm) and the environmental sciences (natural resources, science of earth systems, atmospheric sciences, etc.).</p>
<p>I think of agriculture more as a branch of "applied life sciences". In a similar way to which engineering is not the same as physics. Another application area of life science, in my mind, would be (human) medicine, which is not studied there as much, perhaps. Another is veterinary medicine, I suppose.</p>
<p>Therefore I do not see these two titles as duplicative, but rather referring to two related yet at least somewhat distinct areas of focus; one more applied, focusing on an important outgrowth/ sub-area, the other more basic.</p>
<p>It's true that environmental sciences, though possibly started as a logical extension in some aspect, are actually a bit different, never thought about that before. Though these programs have been there a long time, when I was there. Probably everything was logically connected, or presented a logical extension of the agriculture focus, initially.</p>
<p>I guess maybe politically they couldn't add "Environmental Science" to the name, and still get the $$$, because SUNY thinks that's covered at Syracuse. Maybe. I don't know. Otherwise, it would be relatively easy to do "CAELS".</p>
<p>But if they've got a name that covers 80% of what goes on there,that's not too bad. If it covers less than 50%, well that's another story.</p>
<p>I'm guessing there's more going on at the School of Hotel Administration than Hotel Administration, too, stictly speaking.</p>
<p>But that would be another thread...</p>
<p>googling "life Sciences", it seems "Agriculture and Life Sciences" is the standard name, by far, but there are some variations on the theme:</p>
<p>Agriculture, Forestry and Life science
Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences
Chemical & Life Sciences
College of the Environment & Life Sciences
Life Sciences & Medicine
Health & Life Sciences
Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences</p>
<p>There are some colleges named just " Life Sciences", but mostly these don't seem to also have any aspect of focus on applied agriculture. With the exception of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.</p>
<p>I thought about this for a while. I wouldn't mind a name change, but overall I think the name fits most of the college since a lot of the majors and research have ties to agriculture. For example, genetics has ties to genetically engineering crops, and microbiology to using fungi and bacteria for bio-pesticide research (which is done on campus too) and watershed management. Although most students don't come into CALS wanting to study biology, or business in relation to agriculture, a lot of the college's mission and RESEARCH is focused on agriculture and farming and animal science, which is why a name change probably would never happen.</p>
<p>Wow, my head is spinning -- I agree with everyone :-)</p>
<p>When I applied to Cornell (many long years ago), I was very interested in agriculture. I was absolutely thrilled to be in a place where I could study Agricultural Economics, Entomology, Agronomy, Food Science, Plant Science, Dairy Science, etc. And I was very proud that Cornell was well-known as one of the best "Agriculture" schools in the entire world.</p>
<p>Eventually my interests changed, and I ended up graduating from CAS. Transferring schools at Cornell was kind of hard because it didn't seem to me that CAS had a world-wide reputation for anything. In short, I was no longer "one of the best in the world." Oh well.</p>
<p>But now it does seem that times have changed, and as applejack said, a name that reflects more modern concerns might give the school a boost. Not that Cornell should give up all those great ag-related departments, but just that the public should associate Cornell with fields considered to be more on the cutting-edge of societal change.</p>
<p>I have mixed feelings about Cayuga's logical plan for grouping departments at Cornell. It's handy to put related fields together, but one of the things I enjoyed most about Cornell was the shared interests across colleges. It was great to associate with people from the different colleges every day and to find that, in spite of our differences in background preparation, we had so many academic interests in common. So maybe Cornell is all mixed up, but is that a bad thing?</p>
<p>
[quote]
It's true that environmental sciences, though possibly started as a logical extension in some aspect, are actually a bit different, never thought about that before. Though these programs have been there a long time, when I was there. Probably everything was logically connected, or presented a logical extension of the agriculture focus, initially.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Of course that's what happened. A lot of the different departments at Cornell started out of the needs of the Ag School -- meteorology, science of earth systems, natural resources, food science, nutrition, consumer and health policy. And even textiles and apparel. Because farmer's wives need to know how to sew.</p>
<p>
[quote]
googling "life Sciences", it seems "Agriculture and Life Sciences" is the standard name, by far, but there are some variations on the theme:</p>
<p>Agriculture, Forestry and Life science
Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences
Chemical & Life Sciences
College of the Environment & Life Sciences
Life Sciences & Medicine
Health & Life Sciences
Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences</p>
<p>There are some colleges named just " Life Sciences", but mostly these don't seem to also have any aspect of focus on applied agriculture. With the exception of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, my only point is that if you look in the departments within those other ag school programs you will tend to find a far more limited interpretation "life sciences" than the microscopic levels that Cornell is pursuing. </p>
<p>And whether the name technically fits or not, agriculture is far too dominant and "life sciences" far too much of an after thought in the general perception of the school. </p>
<p>I just don't feel the name and the image reflects the school. That's all.</p>
<p>"Well, my only point is that if you look in the departments within those other ag school programs you will tend to find a far more limited interpretation "life sciences" than the microscopic levels that Cornell is pursuing. "</p>
<p>I'll have to take your word for that, because I've no idea.</p>
<p>But FWIW, from the perspective of an outsider,who hasn't looked into it, that wouldn't have been obvious to me. I would have thought the "Life sciences" people at a number of these other colleges were doing something similarly admirable, research-wise.</p>
<p>
[quote]
So maybe Cornell is all mixed up, but is that a bad thing?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm of the opinion that it significant hinders the classroom and extracurricular experience in the applied social sciences. But others obviously differ.</p>
<p>I myself never really thought much of changing the name. I was an Earth and Atmospheric Science student, which in most schools that is actually located in the engineering department. The way it worked for CALS was that it used to be the Department of Crop, Soil and Atmospheric Science up until the mid 90s, and then it became SCAS, then EAS. Darndest thing was that although a CAS or Engineering student could major in my program, I think only three students out of 80 I knew in my time ever came from outside of CALS. I just view it as a curious eccentricity, and nothing more. But I guess for AEM or Comm, it might hurt some more insecure students to be associated with farmers and pre-vets.</p>