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Kavli Foundation ANALYSIS: EXCLUSIVE THE ‘FAMILY’ FOUNDATION THE KAVLI FOUNDATION DR MIYOUNG CHUN Executive Vice President of Science Programs 6 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION ANALYSIS: EXCLUSIVE The Kavli Foundation is known for being an international community for some of the world’s most pre-eminent research institutes in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. But how did this ‘family’ of institutes begin and where is the Foundation going? Dr Miyoung Chun discusses the ways in which the organisation is fulfilling its mission Established in 2000, The Kavli Foundation was founded Promoting public understanding of by the late Fred Kavli – a businessman and philanthropist science has always been a strong Dr Miyoung Chun discusses the Kavli with a passion for advancing science. How has Kavli’s part of our mission. There are many Institutes and their prominent locations dream been recognised over the past 15 years? programmes for this, but one that is particularly important to us is The Kavli Institutes are conducting some Fred had a lifelong love of science, so he established the the Kavli Prize. This programme of the world’s most important basic Foundation with the goal of advancing science that benefits celebrates scientists who have research in astrophysics, nanoscience, humanity, promotes public understanding and supports made game-changing discoveries neuroscience and theoretical physics. scientists and their work. He was particularly interested in their respective disciplines. To date, there are 17 institutes in some in supporting fundamental, or basic, scientific research – The Prize aims to honour these remarkable places. In the US, these the science that seeks to expand our understanding of the scientists while providing a platform are located at the California Institute world, our Universe and ourselves. Discoveries from these to showcase their achievements. of Technology, Columbia University, researches become the foundation for developing new And what they’ve achieved Cornell University, Harvard University, vaccines, creating more efficient sources of energy and is extraordinary. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, uncovering the secrets behind the origins of existence. Stanford University, University of In 2012, for example, the Kavli Prize California at Berkeley, University of During Fred’s lifetime, that dream was realised by in Astrophysics was awarded to California at San Diego, University of creating a worldwide community of institutes in the scientists David Jewitt, Jane Luu and California, Santa Barbara, University fields of astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience and Michael Brown, for discovering and of Chicago and Yale University. The theoretical physics. These institutes are conducting some characterising the Kuiper Belt and its remaining six are in Europe and Asia. In of the world’s most important research, and are run by largest members.These are the icy Europe, they are based at the Norwegian several of the fields’ most renowned and accomplished rocks that circulate right outside our University of Science and Technology, scientists. Fred also established the Kavli Prize – which Solar System. No-one believed that Delft University of Technology and is one of the premier international award programmes such objects surrounded our Sun – University of Cambridge. In Asia, we have in science – along with a portfolio of robust programmes but using data they gathered in more an institute at the University of Tokyo, then and initiatives. These range from distinguished university than a decade of study, these two two in China: one at Peking University chairs to science symposia to the American Association scientists proved it to be true. Now we and another at the Chinese Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Kavli Science know there are tens of thousands of of Sciences. These are all exceptional Journalism Awards. these icy rocks around us. This finding institutes and comprise approximately 500 gives us fundamental information scientists. And that’s just the professors; Today, we are continuing Fred’s vision by strengthening about our surroundings while also this doesn’t even include the many and building upon our existing activities while identifying being a truly inspiring story about students and postdoctoral fellows who new opportunities. And we are doing this globally. Fred human discovery. So the Kavli Prize work with us. We call them all our Kavli concluded that effective science is not carried out by one provides a unique and far-reaching family members. group of people, but by great minds worldwide. That’s why opportunity to recognise the scientists all of our programmes are conducted on an international behind discoveries such as this; and level, which is perhaps different from many other well- we present the prizes during a week in Oslo, Norway, that known foundations in the US. Fred’s vision, particularly celebrates science, digs deeper into the laureates’ work and for advancing science, was to reach out and ensure the advances global thinking on key issues. Foundation is identifying excellence everywhere, and try to support creative ideas and innovative thinking globally. One of the important elements of the Kavli Prize is that winners are selected by an international committee The Kavli Prize awards scientists for their seminal of scientists, recommended by historic and esteemed advances in three research areas: astrophysics, science societies and associations from the US, Europe nanoscience and neuroscience. Could you discuss the and Asia. The Prize itself is the product of an international Prizes in further detail? partnership that, along with ourselves, includes the www.internationalinnovation.com 7 ANALYSIS: EXCLUSIVE Norwegian Academy of Science a biotech company called Millennium Pharmaceuticals, and Letters and the Norwegian where I carried out drug discovery and development using Ministry of Education and molecular imaging. My scientific background has been truly Research. diverse and multidisciplinary, so it’s not surprising that I am overseeing all of the science programmes at Kavli! It The Foundation really does think comes naturally because I have received training across the internationally. Can you provide spectrum of sciences. Kavli’s Science Communication another example of this? Programs works to facilitate I also bring a background in both academia and industry. communication between and among There are many, but a relatively Academic experience gives me the ability to perform high- journalists, scientists and the public, as recent example is a programme level analyses and fulfil my quest for knowledge. Industry Dr Miyoung Chun explains called ‘Neurodata Without Borders’. experience provides me the entrepreneurial know-how on The goal is to break down the the outcomes I should look for, whether we could really help Promoting the understanding of science barriers that currently prevent people get better, and how to ensure my research remains is one of our core missions, so we have, neuroscience data from being goal-orientated. These experiences have afforded me great and are building, several important more easily shared, accessed and opportunities to view and approach science in different, initiatives to address this. For example, used – not just by laboratories innovative ways to make our teams much more productive. in journalism, we have endowed what are with state-of-the-art equipment now the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism and well-trained scientists, but by Finally, more than my training – both academic and Awards – an award programme that dates anyone, anywhere. We particularly corporate – I’m told I bring a ‘can do’ attitude to any back 70 years and is perhaps the country’s want to make these data available challenge. I’m pleased to hear this. As an immigrant from most prestigious science journalism to any young mind that is curious South Korea, I came to the US when I was 21 with $50 in award. These are awards whose winners about neuroscience, because my pocket and on my second day in the US I had to look are selected by their peers, which really they are the thought leaders of for a job to make a living. This is certainly a country that is what makes them so valuable to the the next generation; by making embraces someone like me, who came with only great hope field. We also have journalism workshops the data accessible we can help and intention, and who has thrived on putting my ideas and at MIT and, most recently, began them to make the next exciting, dreams into action. On my second day in the US I got a job at science journalism symposia that bring unanticipated discovery that a Chinese restaurant and worked really hard throughout my together science journalists worldwide changes our understanding of college and graduate school years, and now I’m here. I truly to advance important issues in the field. the brain. feel like I have achieved the American Dream! The calibre of participating science journalists has been extraordinary. We As Kavli’s Executive Vice also aim to help scientists become better President of Science Programs, communicators. To achieve this, for what do your duties entail? What example, we have supported and helped experiences and skills do you develop workshops presented by the Alan bring to the role? Alda Center for Communicating Science, which is based in the US at Stony Brook I am an example of the new University. Developed by Alan Alda and generation of scientists being a team of journalists and other skilled trained in a variety of
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