Purpose Science & innovation Exchange at Cornell

On Purpose — Sarah Espinel — PSiX Sarah Espinel is director of research for PSiX and as someone new to purpose research, she has interesting thoughts on purpose and what we should know about it.

In our latest On Purpose feature, Sarah Espinel shares her perspective on how #purpose evolves over time — shaped by identity, relationships, and community. Purpose isn’t something we simply find; it’s something we cultivate.

Read more: psix.bctr.cornell.edu/blog/on-purp...

On Purpose — featuring Christopher Davis — PSiX PSiX is higlighting the people that are working in purpose-focused spaces in a new series, “On Purpose.” In this first edition of On Purpose, you’ll meet Chrisopher Davis and understand what led him t...

New on our blog: On Purpose, a short Q&A series exploring how people experience and live out purpose.

Our first feature spotlights Chris Davis, a Cornell Ph.D. candidate, reflecting on purpose as something personal, evolving, and grounding through change.

psix.bctr.cornell.edu/blog/on-purp...

Book by Patrick Hill and Anthony Burrow provides insights on purpose from the past and today — PSiX In the book, Burrow, Hill, and other scholars touch on historical purpose learnings and current research through the lens of various disciplines.

📘 New book out now!

"Purpose in Life as Ancient but Nascent" by PSiX's own Patrick Hill & Anthony Burrow explores how ancient ideas and modern science shape how we understand purpose today. (mabye a holiday gift idea?)

👉 psix.bctr.cornell.edu/blog/book-by...

#Purpose #Psychology #Wellbeing

Say hello to our newest PSiX team member: Daniel Yonas!

Daniel is our newest postdoctoral researcher and comes to PSiX from Columbia University. We're excited to have him join the PSiX team. You can read more about his research here: psix.bctr.cornell.edu/blog/psix-we...

Welcome to PSiX, Daniel!

CNN Newsroom - Kimberly Kopko Powered by SnapStream Cloud Sharing

Our managing director, Kim Kopko, touched on why The Contribution Project, led by @purposecommons.bsky.social resonates with youth on CNN.
-human element and sense of connections
-youth want to engage and contribute and do good in the world

See the conversation:
video.snapstream.net/Play/6iMi4Rp...

Finding happiness through purpose: Cornell study shows it’s not about the money | CNN Dr. Anthony Burrow, Associate Professor of Psychology at Cornell University, joins Smerconish to discuss new research on the link between purpose and happiness.

Our Anthony Burrow was on @cnn.com Saturday to talk about how purpose can be a catalyst for happiness. The Contribution Project is as an example of young people craving an opportunity to make a difference and how that benefits their mental health and well-being.
Watch: www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/h...

Column | A 6-year research project found a surprisingly simple route to happiness How can we stay happy in an age gone mad, when it feels as though all is unstable? A study out of Cornell suggests a practical way to keep ourselves on a meaningful path — a happiness hack for our cha...

Purpose as a path to happiness? Anthony Burrow told Dana Milbank from @washingtonpost.com that it can be. Of note, how The Contribution Project, launched at Cornell and now run by @purposecommons.bsky.social higlights positive effects contributors feel after making contributions. wapo.st/4nlKw7c

Introducing our first researcher - Sarah Espinel — PSiX The Purpose Science and innovation Exchange (PSiX) has hired its first researcher as it prepares to initiate work on its first research project, the National Youth Purpose Survey. Sarah Espinel co...

Say hello to our new researcher, Sarah Espinel! Sarah has immersed herself into our first research project, the National Youth Purpose Survey. Learn more about Sarah and give her a warm welcome!
psix.bctr.cornell.edu/blog/introdu...

Say hello to the teams from PSiX and @purposecommons.bsky.social! We were in New York City to map out our upcoming efforts, an update on The Contribution Project, and set the wheels in motion for some exciting things on the horizon for youth, researchers, and anyone interested in purpose.

🚨We're looking for a Postdoctoral Associate!
Have a passion about understanding how young people develop a sense of purpose and identity? This could be the role for you!

Collaborate with an incredible PSiX research team at Cornell Human Ecology in Ithaca, NY. academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30463

PSiX hires its first managing director - meet Kim Kopko — PSiX She brings her expertise in parenting and youth development to PSiX.

Please give a warm welcome to Kim Kopko as she joins PSiX as our new managing director! Kim will be responsible for our day-to-day operations but will also shape our vision and strategy as we grow.

Read more about Kim and welcome her to PSiX: psix.bctr.cornell.edu/blog/psix-hi...

Grant will fund first-of-its-kind National Youth Purpose Survey | Cornell Chronicle The Purpose Science and Innovation Exchange, an initiative in the College of Human Ecology that launched in April to study the burgeoning field of purpose, has received a $3 million grant from the Joh...

We just received a $3 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation to jump-start our purpose research efforts!
We'll be starting work on the National Youth Purpose Survey, which will measure how youth think and feel about purpose, the first survey of its kind!
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...

Snapshot shows Cornell’s impact on local economy | Cornell Chronicle Cornell drives economic growth in Ithaca and region via student and visitor spending, increased entrepreneurship, taxes and fees, and contributions to local municipalities and nonprofits.

Cornell drives local economic growth in Ithaca and New York!

$23.2M raised in 2024 by Rev Startup Incubator, Praxis Center and Center for Life Science Ventures & $23M in research funding invested in our community.

See how we're boosting economies in Ithaca, NY and Tompkins County 📈 bit.ly/4mzigP5

What we're reading this week:
A study of 17K Canadian teens shows feeling richer or poorer than peers shapes how much meaning teens feel in life—esp. for girls + gender-diverse youth in unequal schools.
It's not about $ — it's about belonging.
🧠 Thoughts?
doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...
#YouthMentalHealth

What we’re reading this week at PSiX:

A recent study followed adults 50+ over 12 years and found that people who felt a strong sense of purpose tended to stay healthier over time.

📑 : doi.org/10.1177/0890...

❓ What gives you a sense of purpose these days—and how does it impact your well-being?

Finding purpose and beauty, Contribution Project expands its reach | Cornell Chronicle The project - which has expanded to four SUNY schools and to younger kids nationally - has disbursed more than $500,000 to over 1,300 participants, bolstering young people's sense of agency, community...

It started in 2019 w/ 50 students. It's now a nationwide project that has a global impact.

The Contribution Project, powered by @cornellbctr.bsky.social, Purpose Commons and PSiX, has given over $500K to more than 1,300 people to make contributions of all types. news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...

New research initiative to focus on the power of purpose | Cornell Chronicle A primary research focus for the new lab is understanding how young people develop a sense of purpose, and how it impacts their everyday experiences and contributes to their long-term development.

Big news! We have officially launched! PSiX is focused on uniting research and the lived experience of purpose in concert with our friends at Purpose Commons.

More details in this story from the Cornell Chronicle:

news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...

Let's better understand the power of purpose!