July 7, 2006
Fusion Grant Administrator Begins Work This Month This month

Elizabeth "Kitty" Noble comes to the Station as project administrator for the three-year, $600,000 Finger Lakes New Knowledge Fusion Project. The program is designed to engage NYSAES, the Center for Infotonics Technology and a variety of educators and private businesses in the collaborative development of new food and agricultural technologies, new businesses based on such technologies, innovative science curricula in regional schools and increased awareness of cutting-edge science and technology around the Finger Lakes. The program is one of a small number of Partnerships for Innovation funded by The National Science Foundation each year.

A 2006 graduate of Cornell University, Noble majored in interdisciplinary studies in agriculture. She was a Dairy Fellow and led several organizations within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Kitty served as student liaison to Susan Henry, Dean of the College. She was chair of the CALS Student Advisory Committee, an active member of the CALS Ambassadors, Cornell University Dairy Science Club, and the College's Centennial Committee.

Noble has a well-rounded background in agriculture. She grew up in Linwood, New York where she worked on the family dairy farm. She has worked as an agricultural education assistant at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County and as an intern with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Noble is extremely excited and eager to tackle the new challenge. She intends to build strong working networks among the various organizations aligned with the project in order to promote new technologies, new businesses, a prepared work force and an informed community.