Sam PetersVice-Chair, Board of Trustees
Research institute · Science policy · Santa Fe, New Mexico · Est. 1984
The Santa Fe Institute (SFI) is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) research and education center devoted to complex-systems science—studying shared principles that emerge across physical, biological, computational, and social systems. Its institutional focus is on complex adaptive systems whose system-wide behaviors can’t be understood by studying parts in isolation.
Why did Obama voters pick Trump, or New Yorkers pick Mamdani? It comes down to complex political identity, a new paradigm explored in a recent SFI working group. Conventional narratives no longer fully explain how people vote, and the unpredictable effects of identity on voting h
Random walks get pushyWhen physicists study a “random walk,” they’re investigating the path followed when you’re allowed to take each step in a randomly determined direction. In a confined space, a random walker sometimes runs into obstacles and is forced to change course. A recent paper in Physical R
The complexity of scientific optimism: A review of "It Could Be Otherwise"SFI Fractal Faculty member Stuart Firestein's new book, It Could Be Otherwise, "proposes a subtly radical notion," writes SFI Professor Brandon Ogbunu in this review: "that optimism, as much as conflict, has always been a character in the development of modern science, and that i
Change the number of searchers, change the efficiency of a questIn natural and artificial systems, the act of searching is ubiquitous, but it's also complicated: Searchers may die off or disappear, and new searchers can join the hunt. But most rigorous investigations of searching assume a fixed number of agents. A new paper in Physical Review
Modeling social inequality in epidemicsFor decades, researchers have rigorously documented the way social inequality shapes the spread of disease. In parallel, mathematical models have emerged for forecasting epidemics and weighing different public health interventions. Now, a paper in Biology Letters introduces a met
SFI welcomes 2026 External ProfessorsExternal Faculty are central to SFI's identity as a world-class research institute. They enrich our networks of interactions, help us push the boundaries of complex-systems science, and connect us to more than 70 institutions around the globe. This year, six new researchers joine
SFI announced application availability for the 2026 cohort of Complexity Postdoctoral Fellows (Omidyar Fellows), with an application window described in the announcement.
SFI Board of Trustees names new Chair and Vice-ChairSFI announced that the Board of Trustees elected Ian McKinnon as Chair and Sam Peters as Vice-Chair, with appointments beginning April 29, 2025.
SFI opens new lecture hall at Miller CampusSFI reported on opening a new lecture hall at its Miller Campus, describing it as enabling larger science events.
New gifts support SFI Education and Postdoctoral programsSFI announced multi-year pledged support from the McKinnon Family Foundation and the Darla Moore Foundation for education and early-career research programs.
SFI welcomes 2026 External ProfessorsSFI published a news item introducing new External Faculty for 2026, describing the role of External Faculty in extending SFI’s research network and connections globally.