2023-2000History
In 2000, Fred Kavli created a foundation to advance science for the benefit of humanity. Since that time, The Kavli Foundation has created programs in astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience that push the boundaries of science; developed a program to strengthen the relationships between science and society; and established long-term partnerships and commitments with 20 Kavli Institutes globally and with The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research for the international Kavli Prizes honoring scientists for breakthroughs in astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience, transforming our understanding of the big, the small and the complex. We invite you to explore some of the foundation’s major milestones.
Nov 2023
Kavli Exploration Award for Carbon Nanotube Synthesis
- Nanoscience
- Kavli Exploration Award
Nov 2023
Fred Kavli’s 200-acre family property in Norway donated to the Romsdal Museum
- FOUNDATION
Nov 2023
Kavli Exploration Awards for Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems
- Neuroscience
- Kavli Exploration Award
Sep 2023
Inaugural Kavli-Laukien Fellows
- Astrophysics
Aug 2023
Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems Initiative
- Neuroscience
- Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems
Aug 2023
Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft receives Innovation Award to pursue broadband quantum transduction
- Nanoscience
- Kavli Institutes
Jul 2023
Kavli Scholars Program
- Kavli Scholars
May 2023
Next 75 Years of Science Policy Project Close
- Science and Society
Sep 2022
Endless Frontier Symposium 2022
- Science and Society
Jul 2022
Kavli-Grass Fellows
- Neuroscience
- Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems
Jun 2022
2022 Kavli Prizes Awarded
- Kavli Prize
Feb 2022
Emily Carter and Shirley Malcom join board of directors
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Dec 2021
Launch of Kavli Centers for Ethics, Science, and the Public
- Science and Society
- Ethics, Science, and the Public
Feb 2021
Distinguished Science Communicator Award bestowed
- Prizes and Awards
Jan 2021
SciPEP created
- Science and Society
- Public Engagement with Science
Jan 2021
Cynthia M. Friend joins as third president
- Foundation
- President
Dec 2020
Kavli Nanoscience Discovery Institute
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
May 2020
2020 Kavli Prizes awarded
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Feb 2020
The Endless Frontier: The Next 75 Years of Science
- Science and Society
Nov 2019
TED@NAS
- Science and Society
May 2018
2018 Kavli Prizes awarded
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Dec 2017
International Brain Initiative formed
- Science
- IBI
Dec 2017
Alda-Kavli Learning Center created
- Communications
- Science Communication
Jul 2017
Foundation relocates to Los Angeles
- Foundation
Apr 2017
Fred Kavli Auditorium established at National Academy of Sciences
- Foundation
Jun 2016
Public Engagement with Science program created
- Science and Society
May 2016
2016 Kavli Prizes awarded
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Dec 2015
Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Oct 2015
Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Sep 2015
Kavli Neural Systems Institute
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Jun 2015
Brain Initiative Alliance formed
- Science
- Initiatives
Apr 2015
AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards endowment doubles
- Prizes and Awards
- AAAS Science Journalism Awards
Jul 2014
Kavli Prize Laureates Honored at The White House
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
May 2014
2014 Kavli Prizes awarded
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Feb 2014
Neurodata Without Borders proposed
- Science
Feb 2014
Mary Sue Coleman and Richard Meserve join board of directors
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Jan 2014
Gunnar Nilsen joins board of directors
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Dec 2013
Rockell N. Hankin elected chair of the board of directors
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Nov 2013
Fred Kavli leaves wealth to the foundation
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Jul 2013
Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Apr 2013
U.S. BRAIN Initiative announced
- Science
Mar 2013
Kavli Prize Laureates Honored at The White House
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
May 2012
2012 Kavli Prizes awarded
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Jan 2012
Science Philanthropy Alliance formed
- Foundation
Dec 2011
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Oct 2011
First Royal Society Kavli Medal and Lecture
- Prizes and Awards
- Royal Society Medal
Oct 2011
Fred Kavli receives Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Jun 2011
Kavli Prize Laureates Honored at The White House
- Prizes and Awards
- The Kavli Prize
Jan 2011
Fred Kavli received Franklin Institute Bower Award for Business Leadership
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Sep 2010
Alan Alda hosts The Kavli Prize Ceremony
- Prizes and Awards
- The Kavli Prize
May 2010
2010 Kavli Prizes awarded
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Oct 2009
First Carnegie Institution for Science Kavli Prize Laureate Lecture
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Apr 2009
Robert W. Conn joins as second president
- Foundation
- President
Nov 2008
Kavli Prize Laureates Honored at The White House
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Jun 2008
AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards Endowment
- Prizes and Awards
- AAAS Science Journalism Awards
May 2008
First Kavli Prizes awarded
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Apr 2008
The Kavli Charitable Trust established
- Foundation
- Trustees - Kavli Charitable Trust
Aug 2007
Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Apr 2007
Henry Yang joins board of directors
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Jan 2007
First Kavli Futures Symposium
- Science
Oct 2006
Kavli Institute for Cosmology
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Jul 2006
Fred Kavli receives Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Jun 2006
Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Jun 2006
Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
May 2006
Kavli Institute for Bionano Science & Technology
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Apr 2006
Fred Kavli elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Oct 2005
Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposia
- Science
- Grants
May 2005
The Kavli Prize established
- Prizes and Awards
- Kavli Prize
Jan 2005
Charles M. Vest joins board of directors
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Aug 2004
Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Jul 2004
Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Apr 2004
Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Mar 2004
Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Jan 2004
Kavli Institute for Brain Science
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Dec 2003
Kavli Institute for Neuroscience
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Dec 2003
Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Nov 2003
Kavli Nanoscience Institute
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Jan 2003
Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
May 2002
David H. Auston named foundation’s first president
- Foundation
- President
Dec 2001
Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
- Science
- Kavli Institutes
Jul 2001
Tom Everhart and Jack Peltason join board of directors
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
Dec 2000
The Kavli Foundation established
- Foundation
Dec 2000
Rockell Hankin, Douglas Freeman and Fred Kavli form the board of directors
- Foundation
- Board of Directors
today