The Kavli Foundation

Attending the International Congress for Neuroethology next month? Don't miss two special opportunities to explore how neuroscience connects with our rapidly changing world.

🧠 Neuroethology in a Changing World
A scientific symposium examining how environmental change is shaping animal brains, behavior, and the future of neuroethological research.
Register here: https://bit.ly/43LzOPO

🌎 Beyond the Bench: Connecting Neuroscience, Ecosystems, and Society
A Science & Society session exploring how neuroscience intersects with broader societal and environmental challenges. Register here: https://bit.ly/4vlwMxy

You can also register for both events using the QR codes below. We hope you'll join us for these timely conversations at

Save the date! On June 10, The Kavli Prize will announce the 2026 Kavli Prize Laureates. Every two years, The Kavli Prize awards outstanding research at the frontiers of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. Ahead of the announcement, let’s look into what The Kavli Prize is about and what happens in a prize year. Visit kavliprize.org on June 10 to be among the first to know the 2026 Kavli Prize laureates and their groundbreaking science.

"At the Kavli ENSI, we cultivate a culture where postdocs and students drive cross-disciplinary conversations. That environment taught me how to build research programs that transcend traditional boundaries, something I now prioritize in my own group.”

Archana Raja is an affiliated faculty member at the @/Kavli Energy Nanoscience Institute (ENSI) and a staff research scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Molecular Foundry.

Her current research focuses on investigating single-atom-thin, two-dimensional materials and understanding and controlling their properties. This work has implications for emerging technologies in quantum computing, energy conversion and more. Learn about her career and journey in the Kavli network.

Read more about Archana’s journey: https://www.kavlifoundation.org/news/the-kavli-network-effect-archana-raja-2

The Earth holds an astonishing variety of minerals that endure extreme conditions over geologic time. Some are slowly damaged by radiation from within, while others appear able to repair that damage and remain stable for billions of years. It remains a mystery how these processes unfold at the scale of atomic bonds.

We are excited to support a new collaboration between geologist Karl Lang of the Georgia Institute of Technology and chemist Claudia Avalos of New York University to investigate this scale by focusing on a rare-earth-bearing mineral called monazite.

Lang and Avalos aim to uncover mechanisms of atomic-scale resilience in materials, which are critical to modern technology, clean energy, and national supply chains.

“With this project, there’s the potential to observe something that people truly have never seen before,” said Lang. This Kavli-supported research team was one of eight selected through the 2025 Scialog: Sustainable Metals, Minerals, and Materials.

Read more here: https://www.kavlifoundation.org/news/a-nanoscience-mystery-inside-a-critical-mineral

The 21st Annual KIBM Symposium on Innovative Research is officially set! 🎉 Join us May 29th for a full day of cutting-edge science and inspiring conversation. Register now: https://kibmirg2026.eventbrite.com

Every day, neuroscience pushes into new frontiers of discovery. We are excited to celebrate six new cross-disciplinary projects that were awarded funding this week through Scialog: Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems — a collaboration with Research Corporation for Science Advancement, Allen Family Philanthropies, The Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation and The Kavli Foundation.

This Scialog initiative promotes novel research in neurobiological adaptations in a changing world. Learn more about this year's awardees and their research. https://rescorp.org/2026/05/6-teams-win-awards-for-scialog-neurobiology-and-changing-ecosystems/

2026 Scialog NCE Awards Six cross-disciplinary projects to advance fundamental understanding of how neural systems adapt to today’s rapid environmental changes have won awards in the second year of Scialog: Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems,

We're excited to share that our President Cynthia Friend has been named in the TIME 100 Philanthropy 2026 list as one of the most influential people shaping the future of giving.

In this pivotal moment for science funding, Cynthia is recognized for her leadership in supporting science research — from mobilizing collaboration and collective impact with private funders, to steering dollars toward frontier discovery research that has the potential to make a substantial difference to humanity, to supporting early-career scientists and scientists whose work has been disrupted by funding cuts.

Congratulations, Cynthia!

See more: https://time.com/collection/time100-philanthropy/2026/cynthia-friend/

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Gilda Barabino and Dr. Adam Falk will join the Kavli Foundation Board of Directors in 2027. Their extraordinary leadership across science, higher education, and philanthropy will help continue to guide our mission and strengthen our commitment to support basic science research for the benefit of humanity.

We also wish to extend our deepest gratitude to Drs. Mary Sue Coleman and Shirley Malcom for their invaluable service as board members. We look forward to their continued contributions as they transition to their new roles as senior advisors. Learn more here: https://www.kavlifoundation.org/news/veteran-scientific-and-academic-leaders-join-the-kavli-foundation-board-of-directors

Kavli Foundation President Cynthia Friend had the honor of delivering a commencement speech to the 2026 PhD graduates of Northeastern University.

At a moment of real uncertainty for science and academia, her message was clear: Disruption doesn't have to be an ending. It can be the beginning of something new, where people with vision and creativity can make a difference.

As this year’s graduates step beyond the classroom, we're excited to see how they’ll shape what comes next. Watch the commencement here: https://news.northeastern.edu/livestream/doctor-of-philosophy-commencement-2026/