Research institute · Science policy · Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe · Est. 1984
The Santa Fe Institute (SFI) is an independent nonprofit research and education center focused on the study of complex systems across disciplines. SFI frames its mission as “Science for a Complex World” and operates as a 501(c)(3), using cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop theory and methods for understanding complex behaviors that arise in physical, biological, computational, and social systems.
SFI’s research model centers on resident and external faculty communities, supported by workshops, working groups, and theme-based programs, alongside education programs for early-career researchers (including undergraduate and postdoctoral training) and public-facing events. Current leadership includes President David Krakauer (also William H. Miller Professor of Complex Systems) and a Board of Trustees that elected Ian McKinnon as Chair and Sam Peters as Vice-Chair (appointments beginning April 29, 2025). SFI continues to support and expand both its research agenda and its education pipeline via major gifts and targeted research-theme funding. For example, SFI reports multi-year support for education and early-career programs, and it has a five-year research theme on emergent political economies funded by the Omidyar Network.
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Scientists have been refining ways to model physical structures and systems, from bridges and space shuttles to forest fires and tumors. These “digital twins” mimic their real-world counterparts and evolve alongside them. In September, SFI’s working group on Digital Twins for Com
Proofs and reasons: How math works in the mindMathematical proof dates back at least to Euclid in 300 BCE, and yet little is known about what happens in the mind when humans solve proofs. This week, an SFI working group co-organized by SFI External Professor Simon DeDeo (Carnegie Mellon University) brought together mathemati
SFI reported that its Complexity Postdoctoral Fellow Kaleda Denton was selected to participate in the Rising Stars in Computational and Data Sciences workshop, and described the nature of her research transition toward real-data testing.
Laurent Hébert-Dufresne receives Erdős-Rényi PrizeSFI reported that External Professor Laurent Hébert-Dufresne received the 2026 Erdős-Rényi Prize, describing his contributions to contagion theory on complex networks.
Wendy Carlin appointed “Dame Commander” in 2026 New Year HonoursSFI reported that External Professor Wendy Carlin was appointed a Dame Commander in the 2026 UK New Year Honours, and noted her role as a founder/director of the open-access CORE Econ curriculum.
Lou Schuyler Seed Grant funds exploratory postdoc projectsSFI described its Lou Schuyler Seed Grant Fund, reporting that since 2022 it has supported SFI postdoctoral fellows with up to $15,000 per project and highlighted example projects and outcomes.
SFI Board of Trustees names new Chair and Vice-ChairSFI announced that its Board of Trustees elected Ian McKinnon as Board Chair and Sam Peters as Board Vice-Chair (three-year appointments beginning April 29, 2025), and that the Board also renewed a five-year contract with President David Krakauer.
New gifts support SFI Education and Postdoctoral programsSFI reported major gifts from the McKinnon Family Foundation and the Darla Moore Foundation, pledging $750K each year for five years to support education and early-career research programs including the Omidyar Fellowship and flagship education programs.