FAQS

Because Santa Fe Institute conducts research on such a wide variety of subjects, we are often asked the following questions:

The Santa Fe Institute is a private, non-profit research institute. Since its founding in 1984, its researchers have defined the frontiers of complex systems research.

Complex systems research attempts to uncover and understand the deep commonalities that link artificial, human, and natural systems. By their very nature, these problems transcend any particular field, for example, if we understand the fundamental principles of organization, we will gain insight into the functioning of cells in biology, firms in economics, and magnets in physics. This research relies on theories and tools from across the sciences. Part of the rise of the complex systems research agenda can be tied to the use of theoretical computation as a new way to explore such systems.

SFI has a steady state of about thirty-five researchers in residence year round, with around twice that number during the summer months. SFI is an institute without walls, and we host around two-dozen workshops per year (with around thirty people in each workshop), an external faculty of sixty, annual summer schools with one hundred and fifty students, and numerous other activities. Thus, our actual scientific impact goes well beyond the usual measures. An administrative staff of about twenty-five support the activities of SFI both in Santa Fe and other locations, as necessary.

SFI researchers, while well-trained in traditional fields, have a demonstrated ability to transcend the usual field boundaries in pursuit of the interesting questions. Over its history, the culture of SFI has evolved such that these types of "hybrid minds" can easily and productively collaborate with one another.

George Cowan, at the time a Senior Fellow at Los Alamos Laboratory, used to get together with other Senior Fellows for lunch every now and then. During these lunches, the idea of starting an institution where scientist could pursue problem-driven science (versus the usual imperatives of paradigm- or funding-driven science) directed at the "hard" problems was hatched.

For the more technically inclined, SFI has a working paper series, a book series, and a variety of other materials accessible in the research section of the website. You can also read the "SFI Bulletin" that has more widely accessible articles. SFI also sponsors public lectures in Santa Fe every month or so. For students, we have summer schools, internships, and an international program.

SFI tends to pursue basic research on important questions. As such, we often find that research results are either directly or indirectly applicable to real-world problems. For example, SFI research has been used to design new HIV therapies, influence sustainable agricultural policies in Indonesia, and influence business policy in the age of information.

For students we have a variety of educational opportunities. We also have an active postdoctoral program and can host researcher visits.

We have over fifty businesses and non-profit organizations that access SFI's latest research ideas through our Business Network.

About a quarter of our activities are funded through the corporate affiliates program, another quarter through private donations, and the remaining half via government and foundational grants. We do have a small amount of endowed funds, and would warmly welcome anyone wishing to make that a large amount. We also welcome smaller private donations. Ultimately, we want to define and understand the frontiers of science, and the very nature of such a quest often requires us to rely on non-traditional funding sources.