The Polson Institute for Global Development is an endowed program based in the Department of Development Sociology. The Institute facilitates collaborative research by funding Research Working Groups and research seed grants. It also assists graduate student dissertation research, sponsors seminars, and outreach programs, including documentaries and the Rural New York Initiative, and hosts visiting scholars from throughout the world.

Social and economic development processes are complex and strain the ability of lone scholars to achieve significant gains in knowledge. By supporting collaborative efforts the Institute stimulates innovative approaches to important issues. In addition to supporting basic research, the institute has a strong commitment to the translation of findings and positions into policy relevant formats, and to active outreach to local communities and agencies.

The Polson Institute has funded a number of research working groups involving professionals from several Cornell departments and a range of countries. These have addressed issues relevant to population, environment, food and trade systems, and rural development. Nine seed grants have been supported. Both the working groups and seed grants have produced additional external funding from sources such as the National Institutes of Health, Russell Sage Foundation, and the Cornell Institute for the Social Sciences. Collaborations have involved scholars and others from the United Kingdom, Brazil, Philippines, Hungary, and Romania.
The annual Polson Memorial Lecture has engaged a campus-wide audience is seminars and workshops headed by major external scholars. The 2006 Memorial Lecture was given by Professor Marta Tienda and entitled "Hispanics and the Future of America." "r. Tienda is Professor of Sociology "nd Public Affairs at Princeton University and recently chaired Panel on Hispanics in the United States of the National Academy of Sciences.
Significant support has been provided by the Institute to the Rural New York Initiative (RNYI). The RNYI, working closely with Community and Rural Development Institute, has developed mechanisms for connecting local populations and agencies with Cornell scholars and policy analylists.
A series of documentaries, "Worlds of Difference" was produced wit" Polson Institute su"port. The documentaries have aired on National Public Radio over the last three years. The documentaries were produced by a national network of professionals, Homelands, interested in the diverse manifestations and impacts of development processes. Major funding for the Homelands effort has come from National Public Radio.

The major benefits of Polson Institute supported activities has been the enhancement of linkages between development scholars at Cornell and communities and agencies throughout New York State and beyond.

Robert and Ruth Polson endowment

• David L. Brown (Development Sociology)
• Max Pfeffer (Development Sociology)
• Robin Blakely (CARDI)
• Phillip McMichael (Development Sociology)