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Fred Kavli And The Kavli Foundation Establish Seven Research
Institutes To Advance The Fields Of Cosmology, Nanoscience And Neuroscience
March 10, 2004
(New York) - Fred Kavli and The Kavli Foundation today announced the formation
of seven new scientific research institutes at leading universities in the United
States and Europe. The new institutes, together with two institutes established
earlier by the Foundation, form a network of nine Kavli Institutes to address
major challenges in the fields of cosmology, nanoscience and neuroscience.
"My goal in establishing these institutes is to support research at the
frontiers of science" said Kavli Foundation Chairman and philanthropist Fred
Kavli in a news conference in New York's Carlyle Hotel. "I feel that it is
especially important to pursue the most far-reaching opportunities and challenges
and to seek answers to the most fundamental questions. The Kavli Institutes will
pursue science at astronomical scales—the universe; at the most infinitesimal
scales---atoms and molecules; and in the most complex of all things--- the human
brain." I have selected these three areas of emphasis because I believe they
provide the greatest opportunity for major scientific breakthroughs and will have
long range benefits for humanity."
| The Seven New
Kavli Research Institutes Are: |
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The Kavli Institute
for Brain Science at Columbia University. Directed by Eric Kandel, this
Institute emphasizes neural circuitry and investigates, for example, how various
genetic components involved in generating neural plasticity are organized, coordinated
and expressed within the complex geometry of a neuron and how the activity of
individual nerve cells is linked to the neural circuits that mediate complex behaviors.
-Download the Columbia University Press Release (Columbia.doc)
1.3MB |
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The Kavli Institute
for Neuroscience at Yale University, led by Pasko Rakic, focuses on the
cerebral cortex, the crowning achievement of brain evolution and the substrate
of human cognitive abilities. A multidisciplinary research strategy, ranging from
molecular genetics to behavior, is used to explore the development, cellular organization
and function of this complex structure that mediates our perception, memory, language
and thought.
-Download the Yale University Press Release (Yale.doc)
36KB |
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The Kavli Institute
at Cornell for Nanoscale Science. Research themes here are: (1) signal
communication of cells, membranes, and proteins with deliberately fabricated microstructures;
(2) the collective behavior of unique arrays of nanostructures; and (3) the spectroscopy
of electric and magnetic signals obtained from single atoms or molecular clusters
embedded in an electrical circuit. Director is Robert Richardson.
-Download the Cornell University Press Release (Cornell.pdf)
492KB |
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The Kavli Nanoscience
Institute at Caltech emphasizes nanobiotechnology, nanophotonics, and large-scale
integration of nanosystems. Led by Michael Roukes, it pursues a research agenda
that, for example, interfaces living cells with large numbers of nanodevices to
read the molecular signatures of gene and protein expression, in real time, and
at the resolution of a single cell. Such technologies provide fundamentally unique
scientific opportunities for decoding the molecular circuitry of a cell.
-Download the Caltech Press Release (Caltech.doc)
332KB |
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The Kavli Institute
for Cosmological Physics, University of Chicago. Led by Bruce Winstein,
the Institute's aim is to elucidate the nature of dark energy and dark matter;
test the inflationary cosmology hypothesis; resolve the mystery of the origin
of the highest energy cosmic rays; understand the role of neutrinos in cosmology;
and connect cosmology with string theory.
-Download the University of Chicago Press Release (Chicago.doc)
32KB |
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The Kavli Brain
& Mind Institute at the University of California, San Diego. Led by
Nicholas Spitzer and Jeffrey Elman, this Institute advances our understanding
of the origins, evolution and mechanisms of human cognition, from the brain's
physical and biochemical machinery to the experiences and behaviors called the
mind. It includes participants from the Salk Institute, The Scripps Research Institute,
the Burnham Institute, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center.
-Download the USCD Press Release (UCSD.doc)
76KB |
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The Kavli Institute
of Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology in Holland. Led by Hans
Mooij, this Institute focuses on interdisciplinary research, tapping the fields
of physics, chemistry and biology. State-of-the-art fabrication tools are being
used, including bottom-up methods (starting with atoms or molecules) and top-down
techniques (such as electron beam lithography). Challenges include: understanding
protein nanomachinery in cells and exploring the coupling of biological systems
to solid-state information processing; molecular electronics; and quantum information
processing.
-Download the Delft University Press Release (Delft.doc)
44KB |
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| The Two Kavli
Institutes Established Earlier Are: |
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Named in December 2001, the mission
of The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University
of California, Santa Barbara is to broadly contribute to the progress of
theoretical physics, especially in areas overlapping the traditional subfields
such as cosmology, biophysics and condensed matter physics. Led by David Gross,
its most significant characteristics are flexibility and responsiveness to perceived
scientific opportunities. In line with its general purpose, the Institute provides
an environment for the conduct of interactive research by both resident and visiting
senior scientists, as well as younger postdoctoral members.
-Download the UCSB Press Releases (UCSB1.doc)
24KB, (UCSB2.doc)
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Created in January 2003, The
Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Stanford University
focuses on recent developments in astrophysics, high-energy physics and cosmology
and fosters collaborations between faculty from Stanford's Physics and Applied
Physics departments, and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), which
is operated by Stanford for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). A gift pledged
by Pehong and Adele Chen in 2001 named and endowed the directorship, held by Roger
Blandford. A recent gift from Pierre Schwob is being used to establish a center
for computational astrophysics in the Kavli Institute.
-Download the Stanford University Press Release (Stanford.doc)
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Based in Oxnard, Calif., The Kavli Foundation was founded in December 2000
by Fred Kavli to advance science for the benefit of humanity and promote increased
public understanding and support for scientist and their work.
The Foundation focuses its efforts on the areas of cosmology, neuroscience,
and nanoscience. An international program of research institutes, prizes, symposia,
and endowed professorships is being implemented to further these goals. Total
commitments thus far exceed $100 million.
Fred Kavli is the founder, former chairman and CEO of Moorpark, California-based
Kavlico Corporation, one of the world's largest suppliers of sensors for aeronautics,
automotive, and industrial applications. He led the company to prominence before
selling it in 2000. Subsequently he established two philanthropic entities: The
Kavli Foundation and its sister organization, The Kavli Operating Institute, both
committed to supporting scientific research for the benefit of humanity.
The Kavli Foundation does not award grants or respond to unsolicited proposals.
Participation in Foundation programs is by invitation only. More information can
be found on the Kavli Foundation web site at http://www.kavlifoundation.org
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