Inside the Alliance: Discover How Science Philanthropy is Revolutionizing the World
Science Philanthropy Alliance
The mission of Science Philanthropy Alliance is to increase philanthropic support for basic scientific research.
Dear Members and Friends of the Science Philanthropy Alliance,
Welcome to our newsletter. In this edition, we'll share some exciting updates on how we're advancing our work to expand philanthropic support for science.
As you may know, I joined the Alliance as president after serving as director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for six years. I'm honored and thrilled to lead this amazing organization that helps visionary philanthropists make a difference.
Discovery science is the foundation of innovation and progress. It’s the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake or use-inspired, driven by curiosity, passion, and intuition about where the next breakthroughs can be made. Scientific research has the power to transform our understanding of ourselves and our world.
Discovery science needs more support than ever. With growing challenges such as pandemics, climate change, and social inequity, we need more investment in scientific research that can lead to solutions and opportunities for humanity.
That's where you come in. As a member or friend of the Alliance, you have the power to support and advance science. Whether you're new to science philanthropy or have years of experience, we're here to help you make an impact through visionary philanthropy.
In this newsletter, you'll find inspiring stories and tips from our members and advisors on how they support discovery science in various fields and disciplines, including science communication and education. You'll also read about resources and events that can help you learn more about science philanthropy and help donors connect with other like-minded philanthropists and foundation staff.
We hope you enjoy reading this newsletter as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. And we ask you to join us in our mission to advance scientific discovery through visionary philanthropy.
Thank you for your support of the Science Philanthropy Alliance!
P.S. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on this newsletter or anything related to our mission, email me at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you!
Our Members
Q&A: New President of The Kavli Foundation Describes Approach to Grant-Making
In this Q&A with Neuroscience Quarterly, Dr. Friend shares her vision for The Kavli Foundation 's grant-making strategy in neuroscience research. It is a terrific conversation and one worth your time, so we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. You can read the full Q&A at the link below.
Science Philanthropy Alliance Welcomes Two New External Science Advisors
This spring, the Science Philanthropy Alliance announced the addition of two external science advisors: Margaret Leinen , Ph.D., and Carla Shatz , Ph.D. They joined the Alliance’s team of distinguished external science advisors consisting of Thomas R. Cech, Ph.D., Fleming Crim, Ph.D., Marc Kastner , Ph.D., and Shirley M. Tilghman, Ph.D. The Alliance’s external science advisors advance the organization’s mission to advance scientific discovery through visionary philanthropy
Dr. Leinen is an ocean biogeochemist and paleoceanographer who has served as assistant director for geosciences at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and president of the American Geophysical Union and The Oceanography Society . She is currently the director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and vice chancellor for marine science at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Shatz is a neuroscientist who has been named the first woman chair of the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School and has received numerous awards, including the Gruber Neuroscience Prize, the Champalimaud Vision Prize, and the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience. She is currently the Sapp Family Provostial Professor of Biology and Neurobiology and the Catherine Holman Johnson Directorship of Bio-X at 美国斯坦福大学 .
Welcome to the Science Philanthropy Alliance team Dr. Leinen and Dr. Shatz!
Seven Researchers Named Recipients of the 2023 Brown Investigator Award
The Brown Science Foundation announced seven recipients of the annual Brown Investigator Award. The award recognizes curiosity-driven basic research in chemistry and physics and supports investigators’ research with up to $2 million over five years to their respective universities. Each winner was nominated by their institution and chosen from a candidate pool of mid-career scientists at top-rated research universities.
This year’s esteemed recipients are:
美国哥伦比亚大学 – Cory Dean, Professor of Physics The Johns Hopkins University – N. Peter Armitage , Professor 美国麻省理工学院 – Mircea Dinca , Professor of Chemistry, and W. M. Keck Professor of Energy 美国俄亥俄州立大学 – David Nagib , Miller Professor in Organic Chemistry 美国加州大学伯克利分校 – Holger Mueller, Professor 美国加州大学洛杉矶分校 – @Anastassia Alexandrova, Professor, and Vice Chair for Undergraduate Education 美国华盛顿大学 – Mark Rudner , Associate Professor of Physics
Science Philanthropy Alliance President Dr. France A. Córdova Co-Moderates AAAS Breakthrough Award Fireside Chat
Science Philanthropy Alliance President Dr. France A. Córdova recently participated in the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s ( AAAS ) Inaugural Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award Presentation and Fireside Chat held at the AAAS Washington, D.C. headquarters on May 3, 2023.
The award honored three NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration luminaries: Major General Charles F Bolden Jr Jr., USMC (Ret), John Mather , senior project scientist of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) since 1995, and Bill Ochs, JWST project manager from 2011 through the telescope’s launch.
Dr. Córdova co-moderated the Fireside Chat along with Dr. Holden Thorp , Editor in Chief of the @Science family of journals, leading a discussion with award winners Bolden, Mather, and Ochs about their experiences with the JWST project. Watch the Chat below.
The James Webb Space Telescope was a transformative project that opened a window to the universe’s origins and strengthened our connection to the cosmos. This groundbreaking effort was a triumph of discovery science, engineering, teamwork, and leadership. I was delighted to celebrate these three outstanding pioneers
-- Dr. France A. Córdova, Science Philanthropy Alliance President
领英推荐
Research Institutions Meeting Highlights
The Science Philanthropy Alliance recently hosted a virtual meeting for participants from leading research institutions. The meeting was part of the Alliance’s strategic plan to further partnerships and promote shared learning and collaboration among members. The meeting brought together leaders from research institutions and foundations to discuss topics such as diversity, equity, and inclusion in science; science communication; and philanthropic trends.
The first day provided a glimpse into the minds of philanthropic foundations, starting with an introduction to the Science Philanthropy Alliance, followed by two panel sessions with member foundation presidents and Q&A breakout sessions.
At the link below, you can explore highlights, resources, and a video of the stimulating discussions that took place during the two-day event. We hope you will be inspired to think creatively about how to support researchers and connect with foundations and philanthropic organizations to advance scientific discovery.
Alliance’s Members’ Meeting in Arizona
The Alliance’s Members’ Meeting took place March 28-29, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona. We are excited to host in-person meetings again, as these gatherings bring together our member foundations to learn from eminent scholars who are guest speakers and from one another. Our special thanks to @Dan Linzer, president of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA), and his staff, who hosted this in-person meeting.
The meeting’s theme was “Water: The Universal Solvent,” and highlights included panels on Managing Water Scarcity and Abundance and Harnessing the Power of Water, a fireside chat with the host of the radio show Science Friday , Ira Flatow , and tours of the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab at Steward Observatory and Biosphere 2 , both sites part of the 美国亚利桑那大学 .
Don’t let the Court disrupt science
Adam Falk , President of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation , and Lorelle L. Espinosa , Program Director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, recently authored an editorial that appeared in the May 2023 edition of Science Magazine . You can read their piece “Don’t let the Court disrupt science” at the link below:
Funding Infrastructure to Advance Scientific Discovery
How can philanthropy support scientific discovery through infrastructure? This was the focus of a special event Funding Infrastructure to Advance Scientific Discovery presented by the Science Philanthropy Alliance on June 1, 2023.
With the growing advancement of data and computational science, funders continue asking how their philanthropic support can better equip investigators with tools to improve scientific discovery. Philanthropy can play a crucial role in supporting infrastructure-focused areas, such as efficient data collection, innovative data platforms and storage technologies, and strong data governance.
The thoughtful virtual group discussion was moderated by Shirley Tilghman and featured key insights from two funders – Niranjan Bose of Gates Ventures and Sonya Dumanis of Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s | ASAP – with established programs sharing their respective visions and experience.
Closing Thoughts
Discovery.
It’s an aspirational word. One that inspires our greatest imagination, fueling humankind’s highest hopes for our beautiful, fragile planet.
When I reflect upon the nature of discovery science, a quote from Paul Dirac, theoretical physicist and a founder of the field of quantum physics, comes to mind.
The measure of greatness in a scientific idea is the extent to which it stimulates thought and opens up new lines of research.
Discovery – breaking through boundaries, defying convention, thinking anew, daring big, bold dreams, making the impossible possible, advancing philanthropy to support discovery science – is what drives the Science Philanthropy Alliance and our members. We are proud to support and celebrate the brilliant scientists, researchers, and academics who pursue discovery every day, and the visionary philanthropists whose generosity and leadership make it possible.
Thank you for being part of our community!
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