Ideas

Explore firsthand accounts of research and questions posed by IAS scientists and scholars. From art history to string theory, from moral anthropology to the long-term fate of the universe, contributions span the last decade to the research of today.

The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge

Abraham Flexner

Is it not a curious fact that in a world steeped in irrational hatreds which threaten civilization itself, men and women—old and young—detach themselves wholly or partly from the angry current of daily life to devote themselves to the cultivation of...

Science—The Endless Frontier, and the Next 75 Years in Science

With Robbert Dijkgraaf

What is required for science to continue to advance human understanding and spark discoveries that benefit the world? Robbert Dijkgraaf joins experts in science policy and public engagement to discuss  "Science—The Endless Frontier," a 1945 blueprint for U.S. scientific research in the post-World War II era that empowered government support for innovation and basic research at the nation’s universities and policies that ultimately drove U.S. prosperity, health, and national security.

Scholar Spotlight: What Will Your Legacy Be?

Meet the newest Members at the Institute for Advanced Study and discover their unique passion for curiosity-driven research in the Scholar Spotlight video series.

In this video, we ask IAS Members in each of our Schools to describe the legacy they...

Scholar Spotlight: IAS Talks Hollywood

Meet the newest Members at the Institute for Advanced Study and discover their unique passion for curiosity-driven research in the Scholar Spotlight video series.

In today’s episode, we asked our Members to talk about famous films that intersect...

Scholar Spotlight: Jeffrey Fung

Meet the newest Members at the Institute for Advanced Study and discover their unique passion for curiosity-driven research in the Scholar Spotlight video series.

In this episode Jeffrey Fung, Member in the School of Natural Sciences, details his...