University of Delaware
10/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/22/2026 08:30
Science in service to society
Science in service to society
Article by Molly Schafer Photos courtesy of Joe Cornelius October 23, 2026
Alumnus accelerates agricultural innovation for smallholder farmers across Africa and Asia
What did you invent today?
As a child, Joe Cornelius faced this question most evenings around the family dinner table. His father wanted to know how Cornelius improved something in his daily life. This simple question inspired the budding scientist to seek innovation everywhere.
His parents, both decorated World War II veterans, emphasized the importance of service to others. Their guiding principles of curiosity and community took Cornelius from a small family farm in the Midwest to global leadership at Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One), a non-profit subsidiary of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. But not without a four-year stop in Newark.
"My journey reflects the University of Delaware's enduring values of harnessing science in service to society," said Cornelius, a 1975 alumnus who earned his degree in plant and soil sciences.
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